Leading the Effort for Breast Cancer Prevention

Nurses are on the front lines of the effort to raise breast cancer awareness, educating women about early detection and prevention.

Every October, the nation takes time to focus on breast cancer awareness and to celebrate the survivors of breast cancer.

Although it is often thought of as a woman’s disease, many men are affected by breast cancer as well. According to breastcancer.org, one in eight women will develop some form of invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. This year, 297,790 invasive cases and 55,720 new cases were diagnosed. It is obvious that this is a major public health problem, and nurses are key to helping patients survive.

Of course there are several breast cancer charities that are raising money for a cure, and many come highly recommended by experts who vet charities for usage of funds. One such charity is the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Although they don’t conduct as many public events as some organizations, their research into breast cancer findings is of particular interest to healthcare professionals. Another is the National Breast Cancer Coalition that seeks to find a cure through influencing legislation for cancer research.

All nurses should know how to teach self-examinations. Patients should be shown how to examine their breasts in the mirror and check for signs of breast cancer:

Next, with the arms raised, look for the same. The third step is for the woman to lay flat on her back and use her opposite hand to move across the breast in a circular motion, making sure to cover the entire breast, looking for lumps, asymmetry, and thickened skin. Finally, feel the breast when standing to see if there are any lumps that are noticeable, and examine the tissue in the same circular way. The armpits should be checked for lumps as well.

Early mammograms are also needed. In the past, the gold standard was to start the tests when patients turned 40, but the new regulations now say that they are not needed until 50. However, the presence of breast cysts may also be a reason to start mammograms early.

In the end, prevention is key. Self examination is the number one way to catch breast cancer before it becomes a problem. It is important for nurses to be on the front lines against this disease, teaching women to perform self-exams and encouraging them to get early mammograms. Only by catching breast cancer early can we hope to save lives and hopefully put an end to the deaths that are caused by this public health problem.

Breast Cancer Self Exam Guide Mammogram Recommendations