Breast Screening to Decrease the Number of Breast Cancer - Essay Example

Breast Screening Outline I. Introduction II. History of Breast Screening and Breast Cancer III. Literature Review IV. Research and Methodology V. Discussion VI. Conclusion I. Introduction "Health promotion is the science and art of helping people change their lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal health. Optimal health is defined as a balance of physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual health. Lifestyle change can be facilitated through a combination of efforts to enhance awareness, change behavior and create environments that support good health practices. Of the three, supportive environments will probably have the greatest impact in producing lasting change". (American Journal of Health Promotion, 1989,3,3,5). According to WHO Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. The focus of this paper is on breast screening. The increasing number of women who has breast cancer has reached the attention of the UK government. Because of this several health promotion has been created to help women understand their situation and be able to overcome it. According to Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986) the following are the basic principles of health promotion: Prerequisites for health - The fundamental conditions and resources for health are peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice and equity. Improvement in health requires a secure foundation in these basic prerequisites. Advocate - Good health is a major resource for social, economic and personal development and an important dimension of quality of life. Political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, behavioural and biological factors can all favour health or be harmful to it. Health promotion action aims at making these conditions favourable through advocacy for health. Mediate -The prerequisites and prospects for health cannot be ensured by the health sector alone. More importantly, health promotion demands coordinated action by all concerned: by governments, by health and other social and economic sectors, by non-governmental and voluntary organizations, by local authorities, by industry and by the media. Create supportive environments -Societies are complex and interrelated. Health cannot be separated from other goals. The inextricable links between people and their environment constitute the basis for a socio ecological approach to health. Strengthen community action - Health promotion works through concrete and effective community action in setting priorities, making decisions, planning strategies and implementing them to achieve better health. Develop personal skills - Health promotion supports personal and social development through providing information, education for health and enhancing life skills. By so doing, it increases the options available to people to exercise more control over their own health and over their environments, and to make choices conducive to health. Reorient health services - The responsibility for health promotion in health services is shared among individuals, community groups, health professionals, health service institutions and governments. They must work together towards a health care system which contributes to the pursuit of health In this study we will apply health promotion in breast screening. Women who are suspected to have breast cancer or the possibility to have one are being subjected to breast screening. Using the medical approach as health promotion will reduce morbidity and premature mortality. Medical approach to prevent and detect earlier the disease is much cheaper than treating people who are ill. (Naido, Wills, 2000). The target population will be identify and the rationale for the selection of this group. The first part of this paper is a brief history of health promotion and breast cancer, how it begins and the evolution of it. The literature review includes study done by The Canadian National Breast Screening (Miller, To, et.al., 2002) on women aged 40-49 years old who have not been undergo mammography, or have no history of breast cancer. The review also includes the NHS facts about breast cancer, the statistics and the present situation of screening in UK. Also in the literature review is the breast screening programs in England and Ireland thru the study done by NHS (2006). The review of the statistics in England and Ireland (www.cso.ie) is also mentioned, the rate of survival and the mortality rate. In the article Medical News Article on Breast Cancer in NewsRx.com find that nursing interventions are linked to self-care outcomes and client morbidity outcomes in a group of breast cancer patients. In the conclusion the writers view as well as the overall result of what is being studied will be presented. Among which is the impact of breast screening in breast cancer, the present situation of breast cancer in Ireland and England, and the rationale of having breast screening even without the diseases. The nursing intervention will also be given importance. I.1 Population Studies The population on study is chosen based on mortality and registration data. For breast cancer there is a profusion of these based on death certificates and cancer registration. In 2004 there were 36,939 new registrations of breast cancer in women in England, and 272 in men. (National Statistics September 2006). Breast cancer accounts for 17% of female mortality from cancer in the UK, with 12,500 deaths each year. (Office of National Statistics, 2005). Older women with ages 40 and above, since the incidence of breast cancer increases with age. Eighty per cent of cases occur in post-menopausal women. The risk of developing breast cancer continues to rise as women get older. (NHS Cancer Screening Program, 2008). In 2003 in Ireland the number of women with breast cancer is 2221 as compared in 2002 the number is lower by 53 people. The decreased in number of patient with breast cancer in Ireland is all because of the early intervention of the disease. The breast screening has helped to lower the numbers. (www.cso.ie). II. about Breast Cancer and Breast Screening II.1 Breast Cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in the cell of the breast. (American Cancer Society, 2007). Breast cancer is considered worldwide as the 2nd most common type of cancer after lung cancer. (But in women it is the one that causes death in women. Breast cancer incidence is much higher in the Western world, whether in Europe or North America, than in third world countries. North American women have the highest incidence of breast cancer in the world. (American cancer Society, 2007). Because of the increased rate in mortality due to breast cancer, several approaches were done to be able to lessen or prevent the increasing number of mortality. Several studies and researches were done to evaluate the affectivity of breast screening and nursing intervention in breast cancer. (Condon, 2003) Among the country with significant number of cases of breast cancer is Ireland and England. II. 2. Breast Cancer in Ireland In the article written by Deborah Condon (2003) shows the figure base on the study done by National Cancer Registry (NCR). According to NCR in 2003 there is an average of 1630 cases of breast cancer in Ireland. As compared from the previous four year which is around 1584. The disease causes around 600 deaths every year. Ireland government is encouraging women to have their breast screen as early as possible. There are several factors that can be consider to distinguish whether a women is of high risk of having breast cancer. The risk factors are divided into two: The risk factor that you cannot change and the Life style factors. The risk factors that you cannot change are as follows: gender, aging, genetic risk factors, family history of breast cancer, personal history of breast cancer, race, abnormal breast biopsy result, menstrual periods, previous chest radiation, and Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Exposure. The life style factors are: Not Having Children, or Having Them Later in Life, oral contraceptive use, postmenopausal hormone therapy, breastfeeding, alcohol, being overweight or obese and physical activity. (www.cancer.org) II. 2. Breast Cancer in England Breast cancer is the most common cancer in England. In 2004 there were around 36,900 new cases diagnosed. This represents 32 per cent of all cancers in women and is a rate of 121 cases per 100,000 women. Four in five new cases are diagnosed in women aged 50 and over, with the peak in the 55 to 64 age group. Around 10,300 women died from breast cancer in England in 2004, a rate of 28 deaths per 100,000 women. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in women, after lung. Because of the high percentage of women having breast cancer the government promotes the breast screening program for immediate intervention of the disease with the help of nurses and other medical staff. III. Literature Review In Ireland the sudden increased in the number of breast cancer patient are being analyzed. To others the increase in number is due to the participation in screening program that are being promoted throughout UK. Ireland releases breast awareness code to educate the women of their situation. "Irish women of all ages need to know the five point awareness code. Early detection is your key to successful outcome and survival", said Dr John Kennedy, consultant oncologist at St James's Hospital. The codes are as follows: (Condon 2003). Know what is normal for you, so that you will find it easier to spot any changes. Know what changes to look out for. Get into the habit of looking at your breasts from time to time. Stand in front of the mirror and look from different angles for changes. Look and feel for any changes - an easy way is with a soapy hand in the bath or shower. Talk to your GP straight away if you find any changes - most changes will be completely benign (non-cancerous), but you should still see your doctor straight away. If you are aged between 50 and 64, attend for regular screening The breast screening programme was introduced in 1988 with the aim of reducing the number of women dying from breast cancer. Originally, breast screening was offered every three years to all women aged between 50 and 64, and to women aged 65 and over on request. (www.nbsp.ie). From 2001, this began to be extended to women in England aged 65 to 70 and to women over 70 on request. Full national coverage for this older age group was achieved by the end of 2004. In 2004-05, three quarters of women aged 50-64 invited for screening in England underwent screening for breast cancer. Around 1.5 million women are screened each year. (Office for National Statistics, 2008). Incidence rates increased by 81 per cent between 1971 and 2004, and by 13 per cent in the ten years to 2004. Earlier detection and improved treatment has meant that survival rates have risen. Screening programme in UK reached women thru seminars, meetings, thru tv promotions, magazines and newspaper articles. Women who want to be involved in the screening are advised to visit the nearest place for screening and register. It has been estimated that if 70% of eligible women attend screening, there would be a 25% reduction in breast cancer mortality rates in women invited for screening. (Miller, To, et.al., 2002) . The uptake target of 70% was included in the Health of the Nation White Paper in 1992 and remains the minimum standard for the NHS Breast Screening Programme. (Health of the Nation, 1992). The NHS Breast Screening Programme is the first NHS programme which are based on the rigorous quality standards and both for the programme as a whole and for each specialist group. III. 1. NHS Breast Screening Programme The NHS Breast Screening Programme is the first NHS programme which is based on the rigorous quality standards and both for the programme as a whole and for each specialist group. Breast screening is a method of detecting breast cancer at a very early stage. The screening includes several steps one of them is by subjecting the patient in x-ray or mammogram. The mammogram was done by compressing the breast slowly. The patient may find it uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Mammogram can detect even the smallest changes in the breast tissue which is an indication of breast cancer. NHS Breast Screening is free and done every three years for all women in the UK aged 50 and over. The women aged between 50 and 70 are now routinely invited. When women reached her 50th birthday she will receive invitation from GP practices. Once women reach the upper age limit for routine invitations for breast screening, they are encouraged to make their own appointment. In 2000 the screening programme had lowered mortality rates from breast cancer in the 55-69 age groups. The data shows that the screening programme is an effective effort to reduce the death toll from breast cancer. III. 2. Nursing Intervention Another model that can help women in detecting and survive breast cancer is thru Nursing Intervention Model. Another way to detect if someone is having a breast cancer is thru self examination. Researchers find that nursing interventions are linked to self-care outcomes and client morbidity outcomes in a group of breast cancer patients. In examining the predicted relationships between self-help promoting interventions and patient outcomes of self care practice and client morbidity a path analysis technique are being used. The research concluded that "Examination of specific patterns of relationships for the sample revealed delayed behavioural responses to the interventions, variability in predictors of each outcome at the three measurement times, and a more strongly predictive model when patient outcomes were considered within the context of client factors." (www.newsrx.com). IV. Research and Methodology The study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of breast screening in women who are suspected to have one. The participants of the research are women between 50 to 64 years old. They are given questionnaire to assess their situation. The question would include their family background, age they gave birth, and others to evaluate the possibility of having one disease. The result will assess whether the factors mentioned above would really mean that the woman can have breast cancer. V. Conclusion Based on the literature and statistic presented, it seems that breast screening with or without the disease would really help decrease or prevent the increasing number of breast cancer. In the National Statistic Office of Ireland the cases of breast cancer decreases by 2% a small number which can make a difference as the years go by. Understanding the disease properly and the factors involved would help the patient overcome the disease easily. An additional help from early intervention thru breast screening and nursing intervention will show a great decrease in the statistics. Breast screening programme should be promoted worldwide. The numbers of breast cancer cases is not only evident in the location mentioned above but throughout other nation. It is recommended that every country should cooperate in preventing the disease. Nurses play an important role, with their intervention the proper approach and treatment are being done properly. Reference: American Cancer Society (September 26, 2007). What Is Breast Cancer. Breast cancer , Incidence Rises While Deaths Continue to Fall, October 1, 2007 http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.aspid=575 Breast Cancer http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/breastscreen/breastcancer.html#footnote1 Condon, D (2003) Breast cancer on the increase in Ireland http://www.irishhealth.com/index.htmllevel=4&id=5239 Fischer, B. Dowding, D. et.al. (January, 2007) NHS Breast Screening Programme Health promotion at NHS breast cancer screening clinics http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/dal043v1 Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, 1986 world Healh Organization Regional Office for Europe http://www.euro.who.int/AboutWHO/Policy/20010827_2 Miller, A.To,et.al (2002).The Canadian National Breast Screening Study-1: Breast Cancer Mortality after 11 to 16 Years of Follow-up: A Randomized Screening Trial of Mammography in Women Age 40 to 49 Years, 3 September 2002 | Volume 137 Issue 5 Part 1 | Pages 305-312 http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/breast/screening/history/ Naidoo, J and Wills, J (2000) Health Promotion: Foundations for Practice. London: Bailliere Tindall. http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/breastscreen/index.html#whatdoes National Breast Screening Programme http://www.nbsp.ie/ Office for National Statistics, 2005 Mortality Statistics: Cause, England and Wales, 2005 2004, Medical News Article in Breast Cancer - Researchers test a nursing intervention outcomes model in breast cancer patients Breast Cancer, http://www.newsrx.com/article.phparticleID=184567 . The health of the nation: a strategy for health in England. London, HMSO. 1992.http://www.ndad.nationalarchives.gov.uk/CRDA/24/DS/1992/5/quickref.html%22 What Are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer Detailed Guide: Breast Cancer http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_What_are_the_risk_factors_for_breast_cancer_5.asp www.healthpromotionjournal.com/ American Journal of Health Promotion Read More