Breast Cancer Prevention
Primary prevention must be included in the discussion due to the need to promote a healthy lifestyle and ensure that patients engage in regular physical activity. In line with Brown et al. (2021), a specific dietary pattern should be paired with raising awareness about environmental issues. Secondary prevention should be based on cancer identification efforts, such as self-examinations, mammograms, and clinical breast exams (O’Sullivan & O’Donovan, 2022). Tertiary prevention should aim to enhance the quality of life and involve appropriate medical treatments (for instance, chemotherapy or surgery). Counseling and support groups could be included in tertiary prevention strategies to help patients overcome the physical and emotional challenges about breast cancer.
Risk Factors
Both modifiable and non-modifiable factors must be addressed when managing breast cancer. Sutherland et al. (2020) suggest that the core non-modifiable factors are gender, age, and family history of breast cancer. There can also be vital challenges related to the personal history of breast cancer and significant genetic mutations, such as BRCA1/2 (Collins & Isaacs, 2020). Speaking of modifiable risk factors, patients could alter their lifestyles to prevent further exposure to breast cancer. For example, they could limit their alcohol consumption and incorporate more physical activities into their daily lives.
Populations at Increased Risk and Education
The biggest risk group for breast cancer includes females with a family history of genetic mutations and breast cancer. Also, radiation therapy and late pregnancies could increase the chances of breast cancer transpiring in women after 50 and 30, respectively (O’Sullivan & O’Donovan, 2022). It is essential to educate such patients on the importance of early detection and regular screenings. In line with Brown et al. (2021), healthier lifestyle habits could reduce the prevalence of breast cancer among the given risk group. Care providers should exert additional efforts to debunk myths about breast cancer and aid patients in making more informed decisions.
References
Brown, J. C., Sarwer, D. B., Troxel, A. B., Sturgeon, K., DeMichele, A. M., Denlinger, C. S., & Schmitz, K. H. (2021). A randomized trial of exercise and diet on body composition in survivors of breast cancer with overweight or obesity. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 189(1), 145-154. Web.
Collins, J. M., & Isaacs, C. (2020). Management of breast cancer risk in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers who are unaffected with cancer. The Breast Journal, 26(8), 1520-1527. Web.
O’Sullivan, K., & O’Donovan, A. (2022). Factors associated with breast cancer mammography screening and breast self-examination in Irish women: Results from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). Acta Oncologica, 61(11), 1301-1308. Web.
Sutherland, N., Espinel, W., Grotzke, M., & Colonna, S. (2020). Unanswered questions: Hereditary breast and gynecological cancer risk assessment in transgender adolescents and young adults. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 29(4), 625-633. Web.