Breast Cancer—Patient Version

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Breast Cancer
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and it is many types of Invasive
Ducal Carcinoma No Special Type (NST). The other types can be named as Ductal
Carcinoma In-Situ, Inflammatory breast cancer, and metastatic breast cancer. In the year
2016, 245,299 new female patients were diagnosed in the United States. The symptoms
include abnormal lumps, irregular discharge from nipples, and others. This paper aims to
shed light on treatments, nursing care, and patient education of breast cancer. The current
treatments include endocrine therapy, mastectomy, and chemotherapy. The nurses must
provide physical as well as psychological care to the patients. The patient education consists
of safety measures, risk assessment, as well as health promotion.

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Neoplasm type and Pathophysiology
Neoplasm or abnormal tissue growth in breast cancer can be of quite a few types. The
most common type is the Invasive Ducal Carcinoma No Special Type (NST). The other types
can be named as Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ, Inflammatory breast cancer, and metastatic breast
cancer.
Breast cancer can have diverse etiology. There is a strong genetic disposition in
regards to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, but the risk of breast cancer can differ with age,
environment, family, and hormonal factors. Apart from the family history of breast cancer,
the risk increases with many factors. During the ages of menarche and menopause, the
concentration of Estrogen hormone increases, which is often a risk for breast cancer.
Similarly, the use of progesterone-estrogen contraceptives also increases the same. The risk
can also increase due to delayed childbirth or late pregnancy. On the contrary, breastfeeding a
child has been shown to decrease the risk (Di Sibio et al., 2016). Cancer starts with the
uninterrupted cell division of cells in the breast and spreads like other tumors. This may be
caused by a series of alterations at the molecular level.
Prevalence and Incidence
Breast cancer is a very prevalent disease that affects women all over the U.S. In the
year 2016, around 245,299 new female patients were suffering from breast cancer. Around
41,487 women died in the U.S. alone. It is estimated to be the second leading cause of death
in the United States. In the state of Alabama, 3,810 cases were reported. The highest
incidence of Breast cancer was found in African American women, were 130.3 women were
found to be affected out of every 100,000 women (Gis.cdc.gov., 2020).