Breast Cancer research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Breast Cancer research paper - Essay Example Breast cancers can develop in one or both breasts and are typically classified as either invasive or noninvasive. Non-invasive cancers are also known as in situ cancers because they are confined to a specific site in the body. Invasive cancers have the ability to spread throughout the body. Patients with breast cancer will typically come in for treatment complaining of increased breast pain, unusual lumps felt under the skin, and/or nipple discharge when not lactating. Although these symptoms are often caused by benign, or non-cancerous, processes, it is imperative that an accurate evaluation is made of the patient’s condition to rule out the possibility of cancer. â€Å"In one study, 16 percent of women between ages 40 and 69 came to the doctor with breast complaints over a 10-year period.† (Barton, 1999) It is for this reason that evaluation of breast complaints and screening for breast cancer account for a large proportion of the primary physician’s case load and will remain a significant part of the primary care practice. Although there are an estimated 190,000 women in the United States diagnosed with breast cancer every year, the number of women receiving screening mammography as recommended continues to vary between only 72 and 81 percent. These numbers reflect the number of insured women who receive the recommended care of receiving mammography screening between the ages of 50 and 64 at least every two years, more frequently when additional risk factors have been identified. It goes without saying that uninsured women receive less preventative care. Despite this, breast cancer mortality has declined gradually over the past decade to about 40,000 per year. (Bloom, et. al, 2000) ‘Screening’ is performed when there are no signs or symptoms of illness as a precautionary measure in women with high risk factors or women within the recommended age group. When symptoms are present, such as breast pain, lumps and nipple discharg e, evaluation procedures may require going a bit beyond the simple screening procedures. Even after a history of risk factors has been established and an examination focused on the specific complaint have been completed, ruling at most benign disorders as being the cause of complaint, treatment may still need to take place to remove the issues caused by the benignity. If cancer is suggested following these tests, discussions with the patient regarding diagnostic modalities – imaging, aspiration or biopsy – should be discussed during the office visit. Because breast cancer manifests itself in a variety of ways, differing in histologic, biologic and immunologic characteristics from patient to patient, this clinical evaluation may lead to referral of the patient to more advanced studies. As discussed in the previous section, breast masses can be placed into different categories, many of which are benign. Overall, cancerous lumps differ in many ways from benign lumps. They are much harder than benign masses; they are also fixed and stationary while benign lumps are more movable. Identifying of five risks through nursing assessment Although women with genetic dispositions for breast cancer are typically aware of the risks involved and strive to keep up to date with screening and regular