How Breast Cancer is Diagnosed and Treated

Anatomy and Physiology: Breast Cancer

Today, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer that affects women globally. Although breast cancer typically affects breast tissue, the disease can also spread to other organs and systems in the body (Lengacher et al., 2012). Some of the common risk factors that are associated with breast cancer include sex (females suffer from a far higher incidence), age, obesity, genetics (black women suffer from breast cancer twice as often as their white counterparts), and various lifestyle factors including smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol, among others. The geographical distribution of the disease extends to the entire nation, but urban areas tend to experience higher rates compared to rural regions which may be attributable to less rigorous detection (Breast cancer statistics, 2023). To gain new insights into this common but potentially deadly disease, the purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the relevant literature to explain how breast cancer is diagnosed as well as possible signs, symptoms, and complications of the disease. Finally, a discussion concerning the treatment and management of breast cancer is followed by a summary of the literature review and important findings in the conclusion.

How the disease is diagnosed? Any diagnostic/laboratory tests advised?

While every patient’s disease condition is unique in some fashion, breast cancer is commonly diagnosed using several different methods, including most especially physical examinations. In addition, healthcare practitioners also frequently recommend a precautionary diagnostic mammogram which is an X-ray that is used to screen for breast cancer before symptoms begin to appear (Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, 2023). Likewise, breast ultrasounds may also be used as an imaging technique to determine if a new breast lump is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst, providing healthcare practitioners with valuable information concerning the exact nature of the abnormality (Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, 2023). Beyond the foregoing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which provides pictures of the interior of the breast is also used to diagnose breast cancer. It is important to note, though, that an actual biopsy is the only definitive way to diagnosis breast cancer (Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, 2023). As noted above, these diagnostic tests may be used either prior to or once symptoms of breast cancer begin to develop as discussed further below.

Possible signs, symptoms, and complications of breast cancer

Breast cancer patients often experience various symptoms related to the disease and its treatment. These symptoms can be both psychological and physical. Psychological symptoms include stress, anxiety, depression, fear of the cancer returning, and difficulties with cognitive function. Physical symptoms may include pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms can persist even after treatment has ended, leading to a decreased quality of life for the patients. It has been observed that these symptoms often occur together and may share common underlying mechanisms. Symptom clusters are defined as the presence of two or more symptoms that are related and independent of other symptoms (Lengacher et al., 2012). Although all health care practitioners who care for women should be vigilant concerning the onset of this disease, oncology nurses are especially well-positioned to help identify the early signs of breast cancer and coordinate appropriate treatments (Sierla et al., 2013) as discussed further below.

Treatment and management of the disease. Any recent advancements in the field of treatment for the disease.

The increased use of diagnostic screening mammography and advancements in the treatment of breast cancer have resulted in greater numbers of survivors of the disease (Pakiet et al., 2023). It is especially noteworthy that the healthcare community has increasingly recognized the importance of early diagnosis (Pakiet et al., 2023).

At present, there are a number of different treatments available for breast cancer, depending on its severity and course. Here again, every breast cancer victim’s circumstances are unique, and some patients may require more than one type of treatment to achieve optimal clinical outcomes. The most common treatments that are currently used for breast cancer are surgical procedures that actually cut the cancer tissue out of the patient, as well as chemotherapy which uses powerful pharmaceuticals to either shrink or kill cancer cells outright (Treatments for breast cancer, 2023). In addition, some cases of breast cancer are also treated with hormonal therapy which is used to block cancer cells from receiving the specific types of hormones they require to survive and multiply. Likewise, biological therapy is used to strengthen the body’s immune system to help fight cancer cells or to mediate the adverse side effects from other cancer treatments (Treatments for breast cancer, 2023). Finally, radiation therapy which uses high-energy rays that are similar to X-rays to kill the cancer cells is also used to treat breast cancer (Treatments for breast cancer, 2023).

Breast cancer patients, however, may experience a number of different side effects both during and following a treatment regimen, but as noted above there are therapies available to help manage these symptoms (Pakiet et al., 2023). Moreover, the good news for victims of breast cancer is that a diagnosis is no longer the virtual death sentence or a radical mastectomy that it once was, and the 5-year relative survival rate for American women suffering from non-metastatic invasive breast cancer is currently 91% while the 10-year survival rate for women with non-metastatic invasive breast cancer is 85% (Breast cancer, 2023). Nevertheless, almost 50% of all women who undergo early-stage treatment for breast cancer experience at least one side effect (Kurian, 2017), it is reasonable to suggest that a diagnosis of breast cancer can have multiple negative implications for victims’ lifestyle as discussed further below.

How does breast cancer affect the daily lifestyle of an individual? How could you apply your research information/findings to your personal and professional life?

Currently, the most common side effects of breast cancer treatment include nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, pain, swelling of the arms, shortness of breath and skin irritation (Kurian, 2017). It is clear that any one of these side effects can adversely affect the daily lifestyle of breast cancer victims, and a combination of these effects can be truly debilitating. Likewise, hair loss attributable to chemotherapy can result in diminished self-esteem. In other words, the cure may be as bad or even worse than the symptoms caused by the disease itself. The foregoing findings provide valuable insights into the risk factors and implications of breast cancer on its victims, and healthcare providers in general and those who specialize in treating women should remain vigilant for any of the indicators that signal the onset of the disease.

Conclusion

The research showed that breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer affecting women worldwide today, and the disease can spread beyond breast tissue to other organs and systems in the body. The research also showed that risk factors for breast cancer include sex (with females being more susceptible), age, obesity, genetics (black women have a higher incidence than white women), and lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption. While breast cancer occurs throughout the United States, urban areas tend to have higher rates due to potentially less rigorous detection. The diagnosis of breast cancer involves various methods, including physical examinations, diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and magnetic resonance imaging. A biopsy, though, was shown to be the only definitive way to diagnose breast cancer. Symptoms experienced by breast cancer patients include psychological effects like stress, anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence, and cognitive difficulties, as well as physical symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Finally, breast cancer and its treatment can significantly impact the daily lifestyle of individuals but survival rates continue to improve as healthcare practitioners and the general public recognize the importance of early diagnosis.