I just thought I'd share with you guys my experience today.
Today was my 4th clinical, I'm in my first semester in nursing school and we are working on the oncology floor.
I witnessed two rare diseases today: POEMS and Glioblastoma.
The patient with Glioblastoma was well enough to tell us about her condition. She said that her doctor told her that there are only 5 people in the NATION that have this, and they have all been told they would live only one more year. This patient has lived for three, and she looked perfectly healthy. Her reason for being admitted was a recent seizure. If I understand correctly, glioblastoma is a brain tumor and is treated with radiation and chemotherapy. She told us today that 98% of the tumor is gone. I think that's incredible.
The patient with POEMS syndrome was actually the patient I was assigned to. My instructor couldn't really tell me much about the disorder, so I looked it up when I got home. I found out that it is a multisystem disorder that is apparently extremely rare. This woman didn't look terrible, but she did have a hard time expressing herself due to a recent stroke. I don't know much else about this disorder. I just thought it was interesting that I saw two extremely rare diseases in the same day, and I thought I would share.
If anyone has any extra information about either of these, please share. I'd love to learn more about it. :)
Glioblastoma isn't that rare. It is a fairly common brain tumor. I am not sure about POEMS symdrome though. Glio patients don't usually live for more than a few years after diagnosis. I work neuro ICU and see glio resections on a weekly basis.
POEMS is very rare. I am trying to find informations about it, but the studies on it are limited. It is a devastating desease. My patient is prostrated by it.
nine.t
2 Posts
Hi, my name is Lorenzo and I am an italian student nurse. I am taking care of a patient with poems, have you any advice?
Thanks a lot
Lorenzo