Assessing the Problem

Posted: January 5th, 2023

Assessing the Problem

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Assessing the Problem

Cancer is one of the major health concerns in the U.S. and all over the world. It claims the lives of many people each years, and subjects many others to anguish and pain. The study examines a case of a breast cancer patient who provides the basis for a literature review of the condition. The review reveals the need to take measures that would protect one from getting the disease, and elaborates how various initiatives are already going on in different parts of the U.S. aimed at creating awareness about breast cancer. Overall, the study shows how improving nursing standards and developing effective governmental policies present a good opportunity to handle the ailment.

Defining a Patient and the Problem

My cousin is a 35-year-old lady who was working as an elementary school teacher before falling sick. She felt fine until November last year when she started to experience some signs that she regarded as abnormal. She realized an increase in irritation of her breast skin that was accompanied by reddening of the skin around the nipple area. My cousin, Mitchell soon started to experience a lump on her armpit that soon extended to the breast. Upon feeling the lump Mitchell realized it was irregular in shape, did not have any pain, and realized it was significantly hard when pressed. She became increasingly worried after she realized one of her breast had started swelling nearly one month after experiencing the irritation. The breast started to become painful, especially around the nipple area, and knew she had to take urgent measures when she noted some discharge on her breast that did not resemble breast milk. Her husband, a 39-year-old physician, urged her to visit a health facility where they would get to know the reason behind the escalating signs and symptoms. Upon reaching the hospital, Mitchell reported about the signs she experiences with her left breast. She emphasized on the lump, the swelling, the relentless irritation, the nipple pain, and the discharge that denies her comfort in almost every aspect of her life. The doctor took the vital measures and learnt the following; temperature – blood pressure (137/90), pulse rate (73 beats per minute), blood sugar (139 mg/dL or 7.7 mmol/L), and temperature (36.7⁰C). The skin color was considerably pale, but the texture was normal. The patient did not show any sign of hardship in communication, and her dress code and movements did not show problem. The signs prompted the doctor to conduct a mammogram (x-ray) of the breast followed by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify the possible cause of the problem. Successful diagnosis and repeated tests showed Mitchell suffers from a malignant breast cancer that has already affected parts of her brain and liver.

Literature Review

Data from the United States Cancer Statistics, which is the official body responsible for handling and sharing cancer statistics reveal that cancer is a major health challenge in the U.S. requiring quick and effective intervention to evade possible future crises. Evidence suggest that more men than women suffer from cancer with the CDC (2021) reporting that at least 475 people who have cancer in a population of 100,000 are males, while 412 infected people in 100,000 are females. Contrary to some ailments where most African Americans would lead in the rate of infection, the CDC (2021) reports that more Whites (438.8 in every 100,000) than Blacks (429.1 in every 100,000). Other populations that record significantly higher rates of cancer infection, include American Indian (269.0 in 100,000), Pacific Islander (284.2 in 100,000), and Hispanic (333.0 in 100,000) (CDC 2021). The CDC (2021) further reveals that whereas cancer affects people of all genders, ethnicities, races and genders, the disease does not usually impact on people in the same manner. Variations in environmental factors and exposures, hormones, genetics, and other elements can result in variations in risks among dissimilar groups of individuals. For most cancers, nevertheless, age is a vital risk factor that increases one’s possibilities of contracting the disease. People falling between 80 and 84 years record the highest number of infection for all types of cancer followed by those falling between 75-70 years, and then those beyond 85 years (CDC 2021).

Breast cancer is one of the various types of cancers that can affect both males and females. Sun, Zhao, Yang, and Xu (2017) inform that breast cancer is rampant among women, but some men can also get the condition. Sun, Zhao, Yang, and Xu (2017) further write that in at least 100 cases of breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S. about 1 is a case involving a man. The CDC (2021) reports that annually in the U.S. at least 250,000 women develop breast cancer and about 42,000 women die each year due to the disease. Typically the cancer affects the cells in of the breast. Someone who develops the condition is likely to experience some changes in the nature of one or all the breasts. Common symptoms, include a lump or thickening in the breast that has a different feeling from the rest of the surrounding tissues, change in appearance and shape of the breast, a nipple that is newly and strangely forming, and signs of peeling or scaling of the skin around the breast region. An infected person could also develop constant itches and an increasing redness of the skin over the breast. One should not hesitate when they experience such signs, instead they should seek quick medical intervention, and possible start medication (Sun, Zhao, Yang & Xu 2017). Consulting a health expert provides room for diagnosis and makes it possible to identify the specific kind of breast cancer affecting someone considering that the condition could either be ductal carcinoma, lobular carcinoma, invasive ductal carcinoma, or invasive lobular carcinoma, which all have different effects as much as they affect the breast. A doctor would recommend medication depending on the level of the condition (stage), comorbidity, and patient preferences. Often, an infected person would undergo surgery that Sun, Zhao, Yang, and Xu (2017) term as the commonest treatment for the condition, although it is possible to receive other interventions such as hormone, targeted, radiation, or chemotherapy. Doctors also use pharmacological approaches to treat the condition. For example, administering Herceptin (trastuzumab) suppresses the release of the HER2 protein that facilitates the growth of breast cancer cells. Often, timely and appropriate medication help patients live a healthy and longer life.

Significant research funding and support for awareness has presented the chance to introduce substantial developments in the diagnosis and medication of the condition. Rates of breast cancer survivors has increased over the years, and the rate of mortality associated with the ailment is steadily falling, chiefly attributed to factors such as earlier diagnosis, fast emerging personalized approach to care and medication, and increased awareness on the nature of the disease (Ataollahi, Sharifi, Paknahad & Paknahad 2015). For example, Americans and the rest of the world commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month each October where health experts, survivors, and other stakeholders join, encourage, and support infected individuals. Such awareness and educative programs usually remind people, especially those at high risk of developing breast cancer to frequently exercise and maintain a desirable body weight, and to limit or avoid alcohol if possible (Ataollahi, Sharifi, Paknahad & Paknahad 2015). Women also get to learn how breastfeeding decreases their chances of developing breast cancer, same to seeking the guidance of a medical practitioner when using birth control pills (Ataollahi, Sharifi, Paknahad & Paknahad 2015). Nevertheless, more need to happen in terms of nursing standards and policy formation to achieve impressive results in handling breast cancer.

How Nursing Standards and Governmental Policies could Impact on Breast Cancer Patients

States should continuously review nursing standards and government regulations with the objective of improving the living conditions of those affected by breast cancer. Board of nursing in various states should emphasize on the need to think critically and analyze the situation very well before proceeding with any intervention (Mcdonald, Clark, Tchou & Zhang 2016). Thinking critically increases the chances for understanding the situation better and to give recommendations that would manage the condition in the most effective manner. Furthermore, the standards should advocate for increased engagement in professional and therapeutic practices and relationships to achieve a situation where both patients and caregivers give their views regarding the intervention approach (Mcdonald, Clark, Tchou & Zhang 2016). Concerning the development of health policies, the government should focus on creating provisions that offer more cover to breast cancer patients, and which remove the obstacles such patients are likely to encounter when seeking medication (Mcdonald, Clark, Tchou & Zhang 2016). The policies, for instance, should promote the construction of health facilities that attend to such patients at different strategic places to ease access to care, as well as call for the reduction of the medical bill patients incur when they seek breast cancer-related treatment and care. Nevertheless, disregarding these vital requirements could affect the effort to manage breast cancer.

Leadership Strategies to Improve Outcomes

Effective leadership is necessary to provide appropriate care to breast cancer patients. A suitable approach would be to draft a policy that guides the intervention process to ensure that everything happens in accordance with the plan. Caregivers should be conversant with the policy and be dedicated to adhere to its provisions (Sharma et al. 2010). Besides, the leadership strategy should emphasis on regular and effective communication between all parties to allow every member or stakeholder to give their opinion on the treatment option (Sharma et al. 2010). It is also possible to address the matter quite effectively by embracing collaboration among caregivers, and employing the concepts of change management.

Conclusion

The study focuses on a patient suffering from breast cancer and explains some of the possible approaches for helping such people lead a normal life. The study presents a literature review on breast cancer where it emerges that despite the decreasing rate of infection and mortality, more need to happen in terms of developing appropriate nursing standards and government policies that promote service delivery towards infected individuals and populations. The report challenges nursing boards to focus on key standards that would improve how caregivers attend to breast cancer patients because making improvement in this area presents a better chance to assess the problem more effectively and propose suitable remedies. In addition, creating and implementing various governmental policies at the state level makes it possible to apply regulations that would make dealing with the health condition much easier, cost-efficient, and highly effective.

References

Ataollahi, M., Sharifi, J., Paknahad, M., & Paknahad, A. (2015). Breast cancer and associated Factors: A review. Journal of Medicine and Life 8 (4), 6-11. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315545768_Breast_cancer_and_associated_factors_a_review

CDC. (2021). Cancer data and statistics. Retrieved 5 June, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/data/index.htm

Mcdonald, E., Clark, A., Tchou, J., & Zhang, P. (2016). Clinical diagnosis and management of Breast cancer. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 57 (1), 9-16. doi:10.2967/jnumed.115.157834

Sharma, G., et al. (2010). Various types and management of breast cancer: An overview. Journal Of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research 1 (2), 109-126. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3255438/

Sun, Y., Zhao, Z., Yang, Z., & Xu, F. (2017). Risk factors and preventions of breast cancer. International Journal of Biological Sciences 13 (11), 1387-1397. doi:10.7150/ijbs.21635