A Brief Overview of the Disease
Breast cancer can emerge because of the changes in cells found in breast tissue. Both males and females might suffer from the disease; however, women have a higher risk. Breast cancer is often linked to such factors as lifestyles, gender, age, history of disease, habits, and behaviors (Bowen et al., 2021). Moreover, several signs can indicate breast cancer, such as altered breast size and shape, discharge from the nipple, skin texture (Bowen et al., 2021).
Diagnosing the disease requires imaging methods and tissue investigation, such as a biopsy, to detect cancer cells (Bowen et al., 2021). The disease can be treated, especially at early stages, by using chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, or combined approaches (García-Aranda & Redondo, 2019). The incidence and prevalence rates are high, as it is about 30% of new female cancers each year, making it the most prevalent type of cancer globally (American Cancer Society, n.d.).
From the ecological model’s perspective, breast cancer can be associated with gender makeup, meaning it should be addressed using specific interventions (Akinyemiju et al., 2022). Thus, detecting and treating breast cancer at early stages is crucial for a higher chance of successful recovery.
Summary of Resources Related to the Disease
Several resources presented below can be used to discuss this disease in detail and speak about incidence, prevalence, treatment, prevention, and ecological models related to this health issue. The article by Bowen et al. (2021) reviews the literature on the relationship between stress and breast cancer incidence. The study also discusses traumatic life events and chronic stress about breast cancer in women. This resource can be utilized in the disease brief to identify the connection between stress and breast cancer and review the suggested intervention strategies.
In turn, the ecologic study by Hunt et al. identified several predictors of breast cancer mortality among white and black women in large U.S. cities, including socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and lifestyle factors (Hunt et al., 2019). This resource can be used in the breast cancer brief to highlight the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities and improving access to healthcare to reduce breast cancer mortality rates (Hunt et al., 2019).
Finally, the resource by García-Aranda and Redondo (2019) presents an overview of the potential of immunotherapy as a treatment for breast cancer, discussing the challenges and opportunities of this approach. This study could also be used in brief to discuss a potential treatment option to manage breast cancer.
References
Akinyemiju, T., Ogunsina, K., Gupta, A., Liu, I., Braithwaite, D., & Hiatt, R. A. (2022). A socio-ecological framework for cancer prevention in low and middle-income countries. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. Web.
American Cancer Society. (n.d.). Key statistics for breast cancer. Web.
Bowen, D., Fernandez Poole, S., White, M., Lyn, R., Flores, D., Haile, H., & Williams, D. (2021). The role of stress in breast cancer incidence: Risk factors, interventions, and directions for the future. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1871. Web.
García-Aranda, M., & Redondo, M. (2019). Immunotherapy: A challenge of breast cancer treatment. Cancers, 11(12), 1822. Web.
Hunt, B. R., Silva, A., Lock, D., & Hurlbert, M. (2019). Predictors of breast cancer mortality among white and Black women in large United States cities: An ecologic study. Cancer Causes & Control, 30(2), 149-164. Web.