Introduction
In accordance to my medical experience, health maintenance is necessary for any individual, and most importantly, to persons suffering from chronic conditions. This is because of several unpleasant conditions that persons disregarding health maintenance, can possibly face. A common example in my line of expertise is metastatic breast cancer, which can prove deadly when poorly managed (Shaw & Mathis, 2010). It is, therefore, necessary for nurses to practice speedy intervening measures such as patient education and prevention, immediately after diagnosis.
Body
I work alongside with doctors and several other medical professionals; therefore, my experience with breast cancer is that, it needs a continuous medical intervention. My job often begins immediately after a patient is diagnosed for breast cancer. I employ my professional and academic experience on patients until they become well and healthy. This process is often long term, and it involves several intervening processes such as education and medical therapies.
In my experience, breast cancer is a lethal disease which demands serious prevention measure and speedy intervention for the infected (US department of health and human services, 2009). Speedy intervention implies surgery and several medical check-ups. I believe that disregarding this process could subject a patient into highly unpleasant conditions. A patient can experience awful complications in several other body parts such as the liver, lungs and bones. Moreover, sources indicate that the disease is lethal (only 10% patients survive 5yrs after diagnosis).
I have a strong believe that the above information should be passed to patients and every other person so that they understand the significance of preventing this disease. This definitely will develop a habit of embracing preventive and intervention measures. Following my medical exposure, I choose outreaches and internal educational programs as the suitable educational strategies. Outreaches are practiced outside healthcare centers; whereas, internal educational programs are practiced within the hospitals. These programs should be incorporated in several nursing programs by all healthcare centers, with specific time allocation. Every patient at healthcare centers should be educated under the internal educational program. This will help them learn how to handle their conditions even in the absence of a nurse.
Outreach program, on the other hand, should target every member of the populace including even the uninfected. However, much focus should be given to preventive measures rather that the intervening strategies. This is because the targeted group is overwhelmingly occupied by the uninfected persons thus prevention is key. As a result, many people will have a clear picture of what breast cancer is all about consequently practicing both intervention and preventive measures. Moreover, this information will also help patients manage their disease (breast cancer), especially at this time when sources indicate a massive disregard of prescribed hormonal therapies. The progress of this process can be monitored by statistics from US department of health. Reduced instances of breast cancer signify the success of this strategy and vice varsa.
Apart from practicing intervention measures, prevention is also a significant remedy for controlling breast cancer (US department of health and human services, 2007). My best remedies for preventive measures include Tamoxifen and raloxifene. A patient can employ either of the two, as a protective strategy for the lethal breast cancer. Moreover, I think these two remedies can also help in preventing ovarian cancer.
Employing educational and prevention strategies significantly help in cutting off the excessive medical costs. Education keeps the public informed about the various measures for avoiding diseases (breast cancer). The practice of various learnt strategies reduces the occurrence of the disease thus reduced medical expenditures, in treating breast cancer. The same also applies to preventive measures, which strives to keep away diseases thus a reduction, in hospital visits. Consequently, costs on medical services reduce tremendously.
Conclusion
My association with several medical practitioners makes me believe that health maintenance is essential to every individual but very much necessary to persons with chronic conditions (breast cancer). This is because of the associated extreme condition, if disregarded. In upholding health maintenance, I believe prevention measures and education are key for the successfulness of the process. Breast cancer, for example, requires educational strategies such as outreaches and internal educational programs, while Tamoxifen and raloxifene as prevention remedies.
References
Shaw, G. & Mathis C. (2010). Metastatic breast cancer as a chronic condition. WebMD. Web.
US department of health and human services. (2007). National healthcare quality report. US department of health and human services. Web.
US department of health and human services. (2009). National healthcare quality report. US department of health and human services. Web.