QUANTITATIVE NURSING RESEARCH ON BREAST CANCER SCREENING

Quantitative Nursing Research on Breast Cancer Screening



Quantitative Nursing Research on Breast Cancer Screening

Breast Cancer Is a major public health problem in the developed world. It is the most common cancer among U.S. women and makes up a significant portion of illness, healthcare expenses, and loss of life. One in eight women is expected to develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Factors associated with increased breast cancer risk include family history of the disease, higher number of lifetime menstrual periods, and inadequate physical activity; generally, the disease is thought to result from a complex combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. One key to reducing the burden of breast cancer is to detect the disease at its precancerous or early cancerous stages. Tools for early detection include mammography, imaging, and self-examinations.

The benefits of screening for early detection need to be balanced against the risks of increased anxiety among women whose screening results may ultimately turn out to be negative. Over recent decades, better treatment options for breast cancer have improved the outcome for patients. The promising outlook for breast cancer is due in part to breast cancer advocacy, which grew immensely at the end of the 20th century. Community involvement has increased awareness, support, and research funding for this common and deadly disease.

In 2007, over 178,000 women in the United States are expected to become affected with breast cancer, representing one-fourth of all cancers in women. Approximately 125 women per every 100,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually. The number of new breast cancer cases increased rapidly throughout the 1980s, and since then has risen only slightly. This is likely to be a result of increased screening in the 1980s followed by the use of novel tools for early detection.

Despite increasing numbers of new diagnoses, early detection and improved treatments held the number of deaths attributed to breast cancer among women constant until 1990. Following this time, deaths due to breast cancer decreased substantially. The American Cancer Society reports that between 1990 and 2003, deaths from all types of cancers in women decreased, and 40 percent of this decline was due to reductions in breast cancer deaths.

Over 40,000 U.S. women are expected to die from breast cancer in 2007, approximately 25 women per every 100,000. The disease is currently the second-most common cause of cancer deaths (second to lung cancer), representing an estimated 15 percent of all deaths due to cancer in women. However, among women age 20-60, breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death; African-American women are estimated to have the highest rates of breast cancer deaths compared to other women.

Risk Factors

Although we have learned much about a variety of factors that may influence the development of breast cancer, the true “cause” of breast cancer remains unknown. It is likely that breast cancer results from a combination of genetic and nongenetic factors. Thus, a woman who is at increased risk due to disease in her family may be able to ...