Question

Anna is a 45-year-old female that presented to her physician’s office for her annual check-up. Anna has a history of diabetes, obesity, and noncompliance with diet and medications to control her diabetes. She a single mother of three teenagers and smokes regularly. During the history review, Anna shares with you that she has not been feeling like herself for the past six months, she has been unusually tired and thought that she felt a lump in her right breast during a self-breast around that same time. She stated, “I am very busy with my children; I haven’t had time to get it checked out.” She has recently been experiencing right nipple pain. Anna has a positive family history of breast cancer; both her mother and grandmother have been treated for breast cancer. Anna has never had a mammogram. During the breast , the practitioner palpated a lump in Anna’s right breast. No discharge from the nipple was observed. Anna’s right breast was tender upon palpation. No abnormalities were found in the left breast. Based on the physical findings Anna will undergo a diagnostic mammogram.

Instructions

In a 2-page paper, describe the care that Anna would require and address the questions below.

1. What risk factors does Anna have that could predispose her to the development of cancer?
2. What signs and symptoms could indicate that Anna has developed cancer?
3. Based on Anna’s risk factors and presenting problems, identify three care strategies that you would use to provide quality care to Anna. Provide rationale to explain why you chose these strategies.
4. 2 pages please no less

Answer 1

Answers

1. The risk factors of breast cancer includes

· Not being physically active. Women who are not physically active have a    higher risk of getting breast cancer.

· Being overweight or obese after menopause.

· Taking hormones.

· Reproductive history.

· Smoking and alcohol use

· Positive family history of breast cancer

· Radiation exposure

· Poor diet

Here Anna have the risk factors such as obesity, regular smoking, family history of breast cancer to her mother and grand mother. These factors are high risk for the patient for developing cancer.

2. The signs and symptoms of breast cancer includes

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).
• Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
• Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
• Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
• Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.

Here Anna has a palpable lump in her right breast. She has recently been experiencing right nipple pain. But she has no discharge from the nipple. No abnormalities were found in the left breast. The palpable lump, nipple pain and the presence of high risk factors could indicate that Anna has developed cancer.

3. The strategies used to give quality care are

1. Primay prevention strategies: The best therapy for cancer is prevention. Primary prevention involves health promotion and risk reduction. Here the primary preventive measures include

· The cessation of smoking, lifestyle and diet modification, vitamins and micronutrients supplementation, regular exercises.

· Then annually take the mammogram to detect lump or tumour in the breast.

· Teach the patient regarding breast self examination

2. Secondary prevention: Secondary prevention comprised of diagnostic tests and treatment.

· The diagnostic tests are mammography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, breast self-examination. It helps for the early detection of tumours or lesions predisposing to tumours.

Here the patient have positive signs and symptoms of breast cancer. So after the diagnostic procedures if the patient have breast cancer, then she needs treatments such as mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. If the lump is not a malignant one, the she needs excision of lump only.

3. Teritiary prevention: It focuses on the prevention of complications and recurrence of disease after treatment.

The early identification and treatment helps for prevention of complications. To avoid the recurrence minimise the risk factors and perform mammography every six months. Regular follow up is needed.