Cancer
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent challenges that women face globally. According to the American Cancer Society, at least one in eight women will develop some form of invasive breast cancer during their life. In 2022, 287,850 cases of invasive and 51,400 cases of ductal carcinoma were diagnosed, with a mortality rate of roughly 13%.
A surprising and relatively unknown fact is that breast cancer is not a condition limited to women. Men can be diagnosed with too, although the prevalence is considerably low. In 2022, 2,710 cases came to light, with the death rate being much higher at 20%. Currently, nearly 18 million cancer survivors live in the US alone.
Modern breast cancer treatment techniques
Over time, breast cancer treatment has evolved thanks to technological advancements and more sophisticated research that has resulted from it. The researchers at the National Institutes of Health have listed the following new methods of treatment for breast cancer, which, although not fully implemented yet, have shown incredible results in clinical trials and early rollouts.
- Targeted therapy: In contrast to the conventional approach of separating cancerous and normal cells, this treatment technique focuses on destroying the former,
- Gene therapy: The formation of cancer cells occurs from mutated versions of normal cells. Gene therapy counters this by introducing normally functioning cells into the body,
- Immunotherapy: This technique amps up the body’s immune response to fight cancer,
- Hormone therapy: Here, certain hormones that speed up cancerous cell growth are blocked or limited in some manner.
Caring for Breast Cancer Patients
Nurses have a pivotal role in treating and caring for breast cancer patients. If you are a practicing nurse but are unaware of the newest treatment techniques, an online MSN degree can put you on the right track to acquire ad hone the latest treatment knowledge for breast cancer. Here are a few points that can also help you offer compassionate and relevant care to your breast cancer patients:
Start by acknowledging the patient and their condition
It is important to remember that since each human being is wired differently, every patient you interact with will have distinct needs. The first and most pertinent question on their mind is about their diagnosis. They can request extensive details and be persistent in knowing the answers even if it puts them under mental duress.
Your patients will also want to know the extent of your experience with others with similar conditions. Your duty as a breast cancer nurse is to answer these questions honestly and without judgment. Your responsibility entails offering them care to the best of your ability and responding to the queries truthfully allows you to understand their reservations, anxieties, and fear.
Facilitate them in understanding of the system
For patients with breast cancer, nurses can serve as patient navigators, assisting with doctor referrals, appointments, testing, and therapies. Most healthcare facilities use a patient navigation system as their primary technique to track and help patients as they progress from diagnosis to recovery. This may seem simple, but it can mean the world to the patients.
Breast cancer is not an easy ailment to deal with. No matter which treatment route the patient chooses, over the duration of this regimen, they can suffer from excessive stress that includes all energy draining from the body to the taste of metal in their mouths. Amidst all this, nurses acting as facilitators for the treatment journey can be a blessing.
Be intent on communicating effectively
Careful estimates suggest that when talking to the concerned doctor, patients can only comprehend and decipher roughly 10% of what they are being told. This is where the role of nurses comes in. These professionals can engage in teaching while also being patient and presenting information in a manner that patients can understand.
When doctors talk, there are a lot of complicated terminologies they throw out. Obviously, the physician doesn’t have the time to sit and explain everything to the patient. On the other hand, nurses are available for both email and phone at various parts of the day so that patients can communicate with them more efficiently.
Get patients the support they need
Support groups offer patients an opportunity to interact with like-minded individuals, which can ease their recovery journey. Support group therapy is common for mental ailments, but most breast cancer patients may not have heard about such activities for them. However, they do exist and can be extremely beneficial when done right.
As a breast cancer nurse, this is another way in which you can facilitate breast cancer patients. Allow them to find the support groups that are right for them because you won’t always be available to help them. Sending them to a support group where they can be supported by other individuals going through similar conditions.
Try not to treat male patients differently
Remember that men experience a negative connotation with respect to breast cancer. It is different for them than women, which is why when speaking with men, it is important not to make them feel hurt. Consider their sensitivities and use similar teaching strategies to those used to teach women.
Of course, breast cancer is not typically associated with men because the name alone throws most people off. This is why men are concerned when they get diagnosed with the disease. As a nurse, you are responsible for not making them feel alienated because that can make a substantial difference to the treatment and recovery.
Nurses have a unique responsibility in this regard because they can influence the treatment of men with their attitudes. What happens is that men, who are already insecure, can become even more cornered when treated differently.
Conclusion
Breast cancer can be daunting and stressful because the treatment processes can take a strain on the patient. This can go to the extent that they can give up on the disease altogether. Nurses have a significant responsibility in this regard because they can make or break the overall experience for patients, including their recovery and healing. This paves the way for them to become better caregivers and professionals altogether.
