Public Health Strategies for Addressing Breast Cancer in the UK

This report provides a comprehensive overview of breast cancer as a significant public health issue in the United Kingdom. It delves into the determinants of breast cancer, including signs, symptoms, and risk factors, while highlighting government strategies and interventions aimed at prevention and control. The report examines the roles and challenges faced by healthcare professionals in managing breast cancer patients, emphasizing the importance of early detection, treatment, and patient support. Furthermore, it incorporates a reflective account using Kolb's model to analyze personal strengths and weaknesses in the context of healthcare practice. The report underscores the need for increased awareness, preventive measures, and collaborative efforts to combat the rising incidence of breast cancer in the UK, emphasizing the importance of education, healthy lifestyles, and access to quality healthcare services. The report also highlights various alliances and task forces working on cancer strategies and the importance of healthcare professionals in managing the disease.

HEALTH CARE PRACTICE
Topic Release
Breast cancer
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Public health is concerned with an understanding of defining the several determinants of
major health issues. Public health is both an art and science which assist in managing challenges
of health and promoting better life to a person by educating them and define appropriate policy
towards it (Adler, Glymour and Fielding, 2016). This essay described about the major health
issues such as diabetes, breast cancer and others in the United Kingdom with relevant strategies
and interventions by the government. Moreover, it looked at the roles and challenges in front of a
health care professional while dealing with such a challenge or issue. Further, this report showed
a reflective account using Kolbe's model of learning that analyzed an individual's attributes and
characteristics through SWOT analysis in the healthcare sector. Here, the focus is on discussing
the breast cancer and its related aspects as there is sudden rise of cases in UK women.
Cancer is one of the crucial diseases which found typically in maximum number of
people. Various famous health organizations and other institutes are working to control cancer
(Baade, Pykeand Aitken 2016). Cancer takes place when abnormal cells start to divide and grow
in uncontrolled way. The cells can grow into surrounding tissues or organs. It may spread to
other areas of the body and there is a need to analyze the aspects of cancer cells to prevent its
onset as it gets spread at faster rate (Cancer Research UK, 2019). In this regard, there are types
of cancer such as cervical cancer and some liver cancers which are caused by viruses
(oncoviruses). Traditional vaccines against such viruses such as HPV vaccine and hepatitis B
vaccine, prevent those types of cancer. Primarily, UK has seen wide number of cases in both
women as well as men. A recent study of 2015 signifies that a number of cases of cancer in the
UK were 359,960. 53% cases of cancer were associated with lungs, breast in 2015 which need
critical and effective assessment by the government of Britain (Cancer incidence statistics,
2018).
One of the growing cases of cancer in women these days is breast cancer. Breast cancer is
defined as “ type of cancer in which the development of an abnormal change occurs and affects
the shape of the breast tissues“ (Rydén, Saal and Borg, 2018). The government of the United
Kingdom expected that around 268,000 new cases can arise in the United Kingdom of cancer
(Llop-Gironés, Mazive and Benach, 2018). The number of cancer are increasing day after day
but out of which the number of death get reduced and survivors number has increased. This is
depicted as essential and major steps by NHS and other public health bodies. All of these are
contributing more and more in controlling cancer (Levine, Husainiand Hennekens, 2016).
In order to decrease the onset of breast cancer, there are certain determinants that has
been interpreted to define signs. It is important for a person to understand such determinants
effectively so that they can assess the starting stage of cancer and take proper precaution and
vaccination to avoid it (Leung, Smith and McLaughlin, 2016). Following are signs and
symptoms of cancer which needed to be undertaken in an appropriate and effective manner.
These consists of fatigue problems related to breathing and continuous coughing, weight
changes, poor bowel or bladder habits, skin color changes to yellow, dark, red and unexpected
bleeding or bruising (Singhand Jemal, 2018).
All these are major determinants which arise before cancer. Thus, it is important for an
individual to take advise from their GP while found any stated sort of reason. Thus, if cancer
found on initial stage then proper treatment assist in managing it. Hence, NHS and other social
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welfare companies need to provide proper education to clients about signs and signify them that
Cancer needs to be finished till 2020.
Cancer is identified as one of the major health issue in the UK and many other parts of
the world. It is really important for the government to prepare certain strategies and interventions
which enables and control breast cancer patients in the UK. More than 2 million people in the
United Kingdom are suffering from cancer. The research of 2012 stated that 46% of people died
in the United Kingdom due to cancer (Top Health Issues Affecting the British Public, 2016). The
most common cancer found in women and men both for on an average age of 22-40.
NHS and other public health associations in the UK preparing strategies and interventions
to control the cancer rate in the UK and other parts of the world. The most common advice is to
lay smoking, avoid prolonged exposure in sun, eat a healthy diet and maintains a healthy routine.
According to a research conducted in 2015, total number of breast cancer cases detected in UK
in year 2015 were more than 55000 out of which approximately 11500 deaths cases were
reported in 2016.
According to a survey conducted by cancer research UK, approximately 78 % survival
cases were detected in females in past 10 years. This survey was conducted in England and
Wales and 23% cases of Breast cases were preventable. In England survival cases of Breast
cancer were highest at an age group of 60 to 69 years between years 2009 – 2013. It had been
observed that chances of survival in breast cancer had increased in past 40 years at all stages.
The breast cancer is one of the most commonly found cancer in both men and women especially
found at an age of 22 to 40 years.
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National health services in the UK are planning to launch various programmes till 2020
under which they signify advice and risk factor of cancer. Thus, for controlling cancer, the
government of Britain launches New Tobacco Control Plan. This plan will be going to describe
risk factors of tobacco and provide information from such individual which already deal with
such a situation. Department of Health will be going to launch a plan of National Childhood
Obesity strategy which signifies and support in providing a proper diet to children. Public Health
England will be going to publish alcohol evidence review.
Moreover, England government is planning to prepare a special task force with England
National Cancer Strategy between year 2015 to 2020. The major role of the task force is to
analyse the services provided by health care for cancer patients. Moreover, for facilitating
strategies like upgrade system, investment become possible with 16 Cancer alliances is working
so that such strategies implemented in an effective manner. There are three more alliances are
working as a Vanguard of Cancer which works in a rigorous manner for managing plans in an
efficient manner and direct delivery services properly.
Various preventive strategies are being used to reduce breast cancer such as: at primary
level awareness about breast cancer can be improved by organizing various programs so that
awareness regarding breast cancer, its symptoms can be generated (Dickman, Himmelstein and
Woolhandler, 2017). After increasing awareness about breast cancer treatment for the same can
be started at an early stage. Moreover, some local public health provides an intervention that
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Illustration 1: Survival rate of breast cancer at all stages
(Source: Cancer Research UK, 2019)

assists in controlling cancer effectively. Thus, such aspects are stated as following which needs
to interpret by United Kingdom people to avoid cancer and its harms (Seven Steps to Prevent
Cancer, 2018):
One of the most common cause of breast cancer is unhealthy life style of people like
eating unhealthy food, zero physical exercise, consumption of alcohol or tobacco and various
other things. People tend to avoid wearing full clothes on the name of fashion which should not
be done. People can also get immunized with various Vaccination like HPV and Hepatitis
Vaccines. Healthcare professionals are the ones who assisted and provided relevant suggestions
to individuals in controlling any harmful disease (Batterham, Buchbinder and Osborne,2016).
Healthcare professionals are the ones who worked in favor of the individual to protect them from
harmful diseases and facilitate effective public health measures and preventive methods. Below
are the certain roles which are performed by Healthcare professional while managing and dealing
with cancer properly:
Healthcare professionals support in identifying and analyzing this disease properly. They
are the ones who have an ability to assess major and crucial habits or presence of bacteria in
body which influence or impact on the health of a person. Thus, for controlling cancer,
healthcare professionals support in controlling and preventing the spread of disease by assessing
the type of cancer and its stages.
Another role of health care professionals such as oncologist, radiologist, counsellor and
psychologist must work together for proper treatment of breast cancer patients using healthy diet
and other facilities. An oncologist is the professional help who provides medical care to people
diagnosed with cancer in any stage. Further, radiologist is the specialized doctor who uses
imaging methods like x-rays, MRI and computer tomography. Counsellor and psychologist are
also professionals who help these patients to overcome any anxiety or stress during the entire
treatment stages. Thus, these professionals play important role in giving a schedule, proper diet
to the affected patients so that They assist in providing proper vaccination to patients who are
suffering from breast cancer by promoting to use injections of HPV etc. This helped in
controlling and reducing the effects of the bacteria present in the human body. Thus, healthcare
professional played important role in treating individuals suffering from cancer by adopting
proper schedule and time frame through use of medication, injections and providing feasible
medicines.
With such aspects, there are certain challenges which also get evaluated from which an
individual get to suffer. Such challenges are related with cancer and needed to be estimated
effectively because they analyzed hurdles or major challenges in front of healthcare
professionals. Here, Breast Cancer is an uncontrollable disease and its onset is sometimes
diagnosed after crossing the initial stage and it is depicted as essential for a healthcare
professional to use updated method and techniques so that they can assess cancer on the initial
stage.
Another challenge is the diet plan for cancer patients. All cancer patients need a different
diet plan and it has to be strictly follow. Thus, healthcare professionals need to assess this
challenge as well and required to take education and gain knowledge about the benefits of diet
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plan as well as threats and risks of cancer. For e.g. the individual must be strict in following the
diet and avoid any oily or fast foods.
Reflection is one of the appropriate processes through which an individual becomes able
to assess major threats and weakness. It is essential to use a reflection model so that all major
weaknesses and issues of personal level are assessed properly (Davies, H., Vedsted and
Whitaker, 2018). Not only weaknesses, but it also analyzes key areas which supported in
enhancing and attaining growth in further future. This assessment is a reflection of my own work
as a healthcare professional in which I worked in favor to control the spread of breast cancer in
my community.
It is my moral duty to assess and determine my areas where I worked effectively so that
my communication with others was facilitated properly. Thus, to assess such areas, I am going to
use reflection model which has four major steps. The first thing which was assessed by me while
working on breast cancer was planning. Initially, I prepared a plan which supported me to
understand the causes. This reflected that I have good research skills which supported in
analyzing them. My investigation and research skills are one of the major strengths which
supported me in dealing with and analyzing the onset of breast-cancer.
Along with this, I had also prepared a plan of personal interaction in which fieldwork is
necessary and led to getting processed. Thus, in my plan, I prepared a questionnaire which
included certain aspects which led to discussions with the service users (Devaux, M., 2015). The
reason which facilitated success for my data collection process was communication skills. I have
good communication skills which supported me to interact with others in an appropriate and
suitable manner.
The next step of the reflection model is an experience. In this my experiences that I have
gained through study or working as a healthcare professional is shared. I already had a food
experience while investigating the reason for cancer and used it to spread awareness about it.
Many people supported my during this, which made me realize that I lack leadership skills. It
was really important for me to improve my leadership skills as I had a team to be guided.
Sometimes due to immense pressure I used to lose my temper and started shouting a people for
not managing things properly. It was one of my major weakness which was needed to be
improved properly. In order to improve my leadership skills I had used a leadership model,
which helped me to bring required changes in myself. Another key area that was needed to be
improved was my decision making skills. During the investigation, many times i got confused
while taking a judgment that was beneficial for both me as well as my team. Due to this I had
started working on my decision making skills in order to bring improvement in myself, so that
future doors get opened for me.
This reflection model helped me to analyze my main key areas which were needed to be
assessed, improved. This reflection defined my abilities and values that were needed as a as
healthcare professional for managing and treating cancer. I had worked very hard in order to
perform my duties properly so that awareness about cancer can be spread properly. This
reflection helped me to understand and improve my leadership skills and decision making ability.
These key skills were needed to be improved because as they are going to make it difficult for
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me work properly in the future, so that no one can take advantage of these factors professionally
for various factors like for taking promotions and many other reasons.
Thus, it was very important for me to use my research, communication and knowledge
skills properly. With the help of these skills and aspects, I had improved my threat areas. If I am
not going to improve them then it would have directly influenced my future negatively. Hence,
with the support of the reflection model and other relevant theories, I had improved my
leadership and decision-making skills. These two areas are helpful in taking a promotion at the
professional level.
The last step of the reflection model is a generalization. This step assists in generalizing
things properly which need proper planning to improvise. On the basis of generalizing, I have
found that some key areas and aspects need critical assessment and improvisation. The key areas
which need to improve our leadership and decision-making skills. These two are core skills and
support me for grabbing maximum market opportunities. Thus, I have to work on such skills so
that maximum return gets assessed easily. This factor needs to undertake by me and formulate a
suitable plan which will be going to assist in taking such opportunities in near future.
Illustration 2: Kolb's Learning Cycle
(Source: Models for structuring reflection, 2019)
It has been summarized from the project that breast cancer is one of the major threats to
the entire society. It is essential for all the healthcare units to define and interpret beneficial steps
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through which this disease can be controlled. Here, the major determinants of breast cancer has
been found such as unhealthy lifestyle habits, inappropriate diet, poor vaccination process,
smoking, consumption of and alcohol. Thus, the government of Britain initiated certain steps and
strategies like formation of task-force and giving education to individuals for generating
awareness about breast-cancer. Additionally, Healthcare professional undergo regular
assessments to play their roles properly for proper delivering of services. Lastly, the government
interventions with involvement from healthcare professionals together help to minimize the
effects on the whole.
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REFERENCES
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Baade, P. D., Pyke, C. and Aitken, J. F., 2016. Geographical inequalities in surgical treatment
for localized female breast cancer, Queensland, Australia 1997–2011: improvements
over time but inequalities remain. International journal of environmental research and
public health. 13(7). p.729.
Batterham, R. W., Buchbinder, R. and Osborne, R. H., 2016. Health literacy: applying current
concepts to improve health services and reduce health inequalities. Public health. 132.
pp.3-12.
Davies, H., Vedsted, P. and Whitaker, K. L., 2018. Is lower symptom recognition associated
with socioeconomic inequalities in help‐seeking for potential breast cancer
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‐Oncology. 27(2). pp.626-632.
Devaux, M., 2015. Income-related inequalities and inequities in health care services utilisation
in 18 selected OECD countries. The European Journal of Health Economics. 16(1).
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Dickman, S. L., Himmelstein, D. U. and Woolhandler, S., 2017. Inequality and the health-care
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Leung, J., Smith, M. D. and McLaughlin, D., 2016. Inequalities in long term health‐related
quality of life between partnered and not partnered breast cancer survivors through the
mediation effect of social support. Psycho
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Levine, R. S., Husaini, B. A. and Hennekens, C. H., 2016. Black-white inequalities in mortality
and life expectancy, 1933–1999: implications for healthy people 2010. Public health
reports.
Llop-Gironés, A., Mazive, E. and Benach, J., 2018. Inequalities in the access to and quality of
healthcare in Mozambique: evidence from the household budget survey. International
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Rydén, L., Saal, L. H. and Borg, Å., 2018. Minimizing inequality in access to precision
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Singh, G. K. and Jemal, A., 2018. Socioeconomic inequalities in cancer incidence and
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Cancer Research UK. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-
cancer-type/breast-cancer>
Models for structuring reflection. 2019. [Online]. Accessed
through:<https://skillsforlearning.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/preview/content/models/02.shtml>.
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