Mary, 65-Years old, Had a Difficult operation of Tumor Removal 4 years Before, Following her Diagnosis with Colorectal Cancer: Counselling Case Study, SUSS, Singapore

The groundwork for the Case Study For The Counselling Processes Role-Play

Instruction:

Before role-playing the person below, adapt it for someone (e.g., a patient, client, friend, relative) you have had interacted with within your own personal or professional capacity. This is to make the scenario relevant to you. You may change the name, gender, age, and other demographic information. Feel free to add other possible predicaments the person is experiencing. When role-playing that person, keep his/her identity private and confidential. You must have enough details for a role-play of 20 to 30 minutes.

Mary, 65-years old, had a difficult operation of tumor removal 4 years before, following her diagnosis with colorectal cancer. Although she managed a satisfactory physical recovery from cancer and surgery, she has complained about fatigue, pain, and abdomen discomfort with frequent constipation and diarrhea. These symptoms have resulted in insomnia and poor sleeping quality. Her partner (66 years old), whom she married 40 years ago, has Alzheimer’s. They lost their only son (30 years old) to an accident two years ago.

Mary has not been working over the last few years after the closing of her business primarily due to her illness. Thus, she is presently facing the challenge of processing various losses such as her son’s death, poor physical functioning, decreased finances, not having a career, limited social network, and lack of motivation for engaging in self-fulfilling activities (she used to be active in her religious life). For her, life is suffering and meaningless.