Breast Cancer Research Paper

According to the Oncology Nursing Society, “Breast cancer is the second most prevalent type of cancer in the world, with more than one million new cases of breast cancer diagnosed every year.” Breast cancer can arise from two components, the breast lobules or the ducts. The ducts are defined as milk passages that connect the lobules and the nipple. The lobule is the milk producing gland within the breast. Breast cancers may be located within the duct, or protrude through the duct wall. Breast cancer can be categorized by pathology: noninvasive and invasive, ductal and lobular. Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive and fast growing cancer involving the lymphatic system. As the disease progresses, lymph channels within the skin become blocked

The lump is often non tender, non mobile, located in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, and is unilateral. Other clinical manifestations include: nipple discharge, change in size and contour of breast, and increased pain. Treatment for breast cancer includes drug therapy, hormone therapy, radiation, and surgical intervention.

Nursing care in regards to breast cancer is focused towards health promotion. Screening guidelines include yearly mammograms beginning at the age of 40. Women should be taught how to perform self breast exams and when to alert their doctor. Life style changes can also help reduce a woman’s risk of acquiring breast cancer. Women should be encouraged to maintain a health weight by exercising regularly and eating a nutritious healthy diet. Alcohol

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is characterized by an abnormal growth of large Reed-Sternberg cells in the lymph nodes. This disease destroys the lymph node structure and often spreads throughout the lymphatic system. Initial symptoms are often insidious and include painless lymph node enlargement followed by B symptoms which include fever, night sweats, and weight loss. Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma differs from hodgkin’s due to its involvement with B, T, or Natural Killer cells. NHL can originate outside of the lymph nodes and is often widely disseminated once diagnosis has occurred. Clinical manifestations include lymph node enlargement, B symptoms, and other symptoms that are directly related to the location of disease involvement. Treatment for lymphoma is dependent upon the nature and extent of the disease. Management focuses on specific chemotherapy treatment plans and adjuvant radiation. The exact cause of Hodgkin’s and Non Hodgkin’s is unknown but may be related to genetics, decreased immune function and environmental risk