Research for practice: Breast cancer - Dissertation Example

During the prehistoric Roman period, explanation to breast cancer was mostly referred as God’s wrath which received meagre attention for treatments (Donegan, 2005). Later during the medieval ages the diseases was treated with the amputation of the affected breast after the repeated application of caustic paste to cause necrosis of the tissues. Furthermore, throughout the eighteenth and the nineteenth century various theories were put forward by the then physicians with the intention to introduce effective healing procedures in curing breast cancer diseases.

However, it was the mechanism of chemotherapy that was considered to be highly effective in curing cancer (Donegan, 2005). A rapid advancement has been witnessed in the treatment procedure of breast cancer since the past few years. However, in majority instances, the disease of breast cancer is treated through chemotherapy as in the case of many other carcinoma cases. Although, it should be mentioned that chemotherapy is not the only healing suggested and used for curing breast cancer patients (National Cancer Institute, n.d.).

Chemotherapy is often regarded to impose some inevitable side-effects on the physical traits of the patient which can cause hair-loss, apart from weakness and bleeding problems. The hair-loss caused due to chemotherapy among breast cancer patients is termed as ‘chemotherapy-induced alopecia’ (PubMedHealth, 2012). . The ‘hypothermia cap’ is popularly known as cold cap which is considered to control chemotherapy induced alopecia. Stating precisely, during the chemotherapeutic sessions, breast cancer patients are suggested to use cold caps in order to keep their scalp extremely cold.

This in turn reduces the frequency of hair-loss among the patients (PubMedHealth, 2012). Based on these theories and concerns, the research question that would be addressed in the proposed study is “what is the evidence to support the use of cold cap in preventing hair-loss during chemotherapy regimens”? Thus, the study would intend to gather adequate evidence presented through literatures arguing on the effectiveness of cold caps in avoiding chemotherapy induced alopecia among breast cancer patients. 1.1 Research Strategy A literature review is a formal method used for searching of past research on a given topic to establish what is known.

Literature reviews intends to provide an account of the matters that have been published regarding a particular topic by various scholars as well as researchers. The fundamental aim when reviewing the literature for the purpose of a particular research study, is often demonstrated as the obtainment of an overview concerning the field of inquiry, identification of what has already been affirmed and rationalised regarding the topic, recognition of the key writers, evaluation of the prevailing theories and hypotheses, formulation of the questions or queries addressed and development of the methodologies applied for the establishment of the research processes (Aveyard, 2010; pp: 5-22). 1.2 Aims and Objectives The aims of this study search strategies has been to assess prior