Cancer

Introduction

            A report by the American Cancer Society shows that more than 226,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 241,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer by 2012. The high prevalence is a cause of alarm that calls for patient education and preventive services. The advanced practice nurses ought to assist the physicians in educating patents on the potential risk factors, available preventive services, and the existing drug treatments for the patients diagnosed with cancer. Clinical implications of women’s cancer depend on early detection and are achieved through preventive services.  The assignment has a discussion of the available preventive services to breast cancer, the impact of genetics and age to decisions related to preventive services, drug treatment options, and the short-term and long-term implications for treatments.

Prevention methods

            Some women are more prone to developing breast cancer than others, hence necessary to know the individual risk that may be empowering. The key to most of the preventive programs is measuring the risk that goes beyond the lifestyle choices to the biology and genetics aspects. All women are at risk of breast cancer, but not all of them have the same degree of risk. Regular screening for breast cancer using mammography, breast self-examinations, and clinical breast examinations are reliable recommendations to limit mortality from breast cancer (The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care, 2011). A mammogram is a type of X-ray of the breast and is the best way to identify a case of breast cancer in the early stages when it’s easier to treat. Regular mammograms help to lower the risk of succumbing to breast cancer. A clinical breast exam is an examination performed by a doctor or a nurse using hands to feel the presence of lumps or other changes. Individuals can also have breast self-examinations by being familiar with how their breasts feel. Thus, it is easier to identify lumps, pain, or changes in size and take action.

Influencing factors

            Certain factors influence the development of cancer such as genetics, gender, age, and behavior. Genetics is a common cause of inherited breast cancer when gene mutations are passed on from one generation to another. In a family having a history of breast cancer, there is need to focus on the trend of the disease as a preventive measure. As such, the decisions made about preventive services need to have a consideration of the family history as related to cancer. 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary and are a result of gene defects passed on from a parent (Dossus & Benusiglio, 2015). As such, the advanced practice nurses and physicians need to fully examine the history of the patient before making any decisions.

            Age is a determinate factor in the decisions made on prevention of breast cancer. The risk of developing the condition increases with age of a woman, and most cancers develop in women aged 50 years and older (Dossus & Benusiglio, 2015). In making decisions related to preventive services, it is important to match the age of the patient with the potential risk of developing breast cancer. In most instances, breast cancer cases are identified after attaining 50 years due to lack of early screening when one was young.

Treatment methods

            All is not lost for the patients diagnosed with breast cancer since there are several treatment options available. The drug treatment options available for breast cancer include chemotherapy and hormonal therapy (DeSantis, Lin, Mariotto, Siegel, Stein, Kramer & Jemal, 2014). Chemotherapy involves usage of drugs to destroy the cancerous cells that halt the ability to grow and multiply. The drugs go into the bloodstream and reach the cancer cells spread across all parts of the body. It can be administered through an intravenous tube placed into a vein, an injection under the skin, and a pill that is swallowed. Chemotherapy can also be given before surgery to make it easier. A regimen of chemotherapy has a specific number of cycles given over a set period (Miller et al., 2016). The common drugs used are capecitabine, carboplatin, cisplatin, docetaxel, epirubicin, and paclitaxel among others.

            Hormonal therapy is an effective treatment for most tumors that test positive for estrogen or progesterone receptors. The method involves blockage of the tumors to prevent the recurrence of cancer and death from breast cancer (Miller et al., 2016). The common drugs used for hormonal therapy are Tamoxifen and Aromatase inhibitors.

Short-term and long-term implications

            The use of chemotherapy for treatment of breast cancer has several short terms and long-term implications but varies with individuals and the schedule of usage. The short-term effects include fatigue, the risk of infection, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, and loss of appetite. They can be controlled using supportive medications. The long-term implications of chemotherapy include heart damage, nerve damage, or secondary cancers (DeSantis, Lin, Mariotto, Siegel, Stein, Kramer & Jemal, 2014).

            The use of Tamoxifen causes short-term effects such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and bleeding. The likely long-term effects include cancer of the lining of the uterus and blood clots. The use of Aromatase inhibitors may cause muscle and joint pain, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and increased risk of osteoporosis.

Conclusion

            Breast cancer can be treated if identified in the early stages, hence necessary to have comprehensive prevention programs such as early screening for the women at high risk. Factors such as genetics, age, and gender are important considerations when making decisions on the appropriate preventive measures against breast cancer. 

References

DeSantis, C. E., Lin, C. C., Mariotto, A. B., Siegel, R. L., Stein, K. D., Kramer, J. L., ... & Jemal, A. (2014). Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2014. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 64(4), 252-271.

Dossus, L., & Benusiglio, P. R. (2015). Lobular breast cancer: incidence and genetic and non-genetic risk factors. Breast Cancer Research, 17(1), 37.

Miller, K. D., Siegel, R. L., Lin, C. C., Mariotto, A. B., Kramer, J. L., Rowland, J. H., ... & Jemal, A. (2016). Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2016. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 66(4), 271-289.

Carolyn Morgan is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in nursing research paper writing service California. If you need a similar paper you can place your order from nursing paper writing services Pennsylvania.