Breast Cancer and Related Issues - Term Paper Example

Breast Cancer and Related Issues Breast cancer is one of the health issues that are causing alarm to the international community. The problem can be considered as a wide spread issue that is needed to be resolved by the concerted efforts of different countries and leadership. In Asia, the highest rate of disease-related death can be attributed to the cancer of the breast (Agarwal, Pradeep, Aggarwal, Yip & Cheung, 2007). In other countries and regions on the other hand, a significant percentage of the population specifically the women are being diagnosed with the breast cancer. In the United Kingdom, through the presence of different forms of diagnostic and treatment procedures, the rate of increase of breast cancer victims can be considered as alarming, thus, requires attention. Based on studies on breast cancer in the European Region, it was determined that the British rate of inhabitants with breast cancer is “five times the rate of people with infected in Japan” (Clark & Fallowfield, 1991). Due to the escalating effects of the disease in the society, a study on the disease and the actions that are undertaken by the government and by international and local organizations related to the advocacy against breast cancer is a vital field of exploration. The essential issues then related to the cancer of the breast explores the causes, treatments and the actions that are undertake to be able to both prevent and resolve the disease. Breast Cancer, Causes and Treatments Included in the main issues regarding breast cancer are the causes, the symptoms and the possible treatments. The studies and researches that are being conducted by different academic and social groups are pertaining to the quest to be able to eliminate the disease. Fighting the disease can be defined as increasing the accumulated knowledge on the health ailment to be able to determine the methods and techniques to be undertaken and set the target and goals for the resolution. A. Causes To be able to find feasible solution to the problems related to breast cancer, it is important to determine the root of the problem. The primary need in resolving the disease is through the determination of the causes of the cancer of the breast. There are different factors that can be pointed out as root causes of breast cancer. On the basis of the study of different forms of cancers it was determined that the cancer cells are always present in the human body but in amount that are untraceable and causes no significant effect to the body functions. It can then be surmised that the detection of the said disease can be related to the escalation of the cancer cells, thus are detected through different forms of methods and diagnostic tests. Due to the fact that there are reasons for the escalation of the disease during the detection of cancer the possible causes can be considered as an important aspect. There are different factors perceived as the causes for the onset of cancer. Some factors are considered to be genetically related wherein the expression of the condition can result to changes in the body functions and processes. On the other hand, other factors are related to environmental condition. These factors commonly referred to as carcinogenic can trigger the increase in number of the cancer cells. In the case of breast cancer, some of the conditions that can trigger the breast cancer cells to be active are obesity and ionizing radiation. There are also components and conditions considered as risk factors such as the age of the individual that can be considered to affect the cells. Most breast cancer patients are known to be affected during the midlife during when major changes in the body again occur in relation to menopause for women. Other factors that are included are commonly reproductively related such as time of giving birth and the gender. Similar to other diseases, smoking, drinking and stress that can cause the deterioration of health condition can also trigger the cancer cells to be active. Other suspected causes are presently being studied for feasibility and effects (Clark & Fallowfield, 1991). The determination of the causes of the disease can be considered as the primary phase towards ultimately treating the disease. Due to the percentage of occurrence of breast cancer, there is a widespread study and exploration to be able to eradicate its effects in the society. Gaining substantial amount of information can be considered to increase the chance of achieving the goal. B. Clinical Diagnosis and Treatments Upon the determination of the possible causes of breast cancer, the methods of diagnosis towards treatment are the subsequent priority in the study of the breast cancer. There are different ways that can be used to be able to detect the disease. Blood composition and radiology are included in the methods that are employed. It is on the basis of the stage of the diseases upon diagnosis that can be considered essential in the determination of the possible treatment that is needed to be advised and applied (Agarwal, Pradeep, Aggarwal, Yip & Cheung, 2007; Clark & Fallowfield, 1991). Also the survival of the patients diagnosed can be attributed to the stage of the disease. Based on the studies conducted in the European Region mainly England and the Wales in the United Kingdom, the efforts of different groups in the society to fight breast cancer by gaining knowledge on the different aspects of the disease had resulted in the progress. The improvement in the frequency of the population, mostly women affected by the disease had been observed with success in treatment and decrease in mortality (Woods, Rachet, Cooper & Coleman, 2007). The different forms of treatment include operation, radiation treatment, chemotherapy and even psychosocial aspects. Upon the discovery of the tumour composed of cancer cells, it is either operation or chemotherapy that is employed. In some cases, an integration of the treatments can be considered most effective. Another aspect of the treatment is on the psychosocial effects. This can be attributed to the emotional trauma that a patient can experience due to the sexual aspect of the particular type of cancer (Clark & Fallowfield, 1991). The difficulty of the situations that are being experienced by the patients with breast cancer can be treated through medications but oftentimes it is the social and emotional aspects that are harder to overcome. This can be considered as the main motivation for the advocacy of different organizations that lead the fight against breast cancer and offer support to the people that can experience the ordeal. The government also has different legislations and projects to be able to assists the individuals that are affected by the said ailment. These actions are related to the issues that are related to the disease. In most cases, the actions that are undertaken answer the needs of a particular aspect of the disease. Implementation of Proposed Strategies on Breast Cancer The concern related to breast cancer can be considered on the basis of the social, cultural, economic, gender and scientific aside from being a health issue. The important issue in the study are the policies and actions that are undertaken by both private and public sectors relating to these aspects of breast cancer management. Generally the policies target the different levels such as the government, community and the individuals. A. Actions in the Government Level Basically, the preliminary study of the situation is required to be able to provide the government and the authorities with data that can be the basis of the course of action. From the assimilated information, the policies can then be established. Both the implementation of actions and the dissemination of knowledge and information can be subsequently undertaken by the community to be able to ultimately target the person with the condition. There are different cases that can be viewed in terms of the establishment of policies. One focus is the direct attention to the health services of the country. One of the ways to be able to counteract the continuing effects of breast cancer to the population is the standardization of the methods that are used to detect and cure the disease. These guidelines that are needed to be established should take into consideration the different factors that cause the variation of the cases of breast cancer. Based on a particular study that was conducted in a particular location, the guidelines are needed to be updated on a regular basis to be able to include pertinent and current concern (Latosinsky, Fradette, Lix, Hildebrand & Turner, 2007). Aside from the health services and research that can directly act on the needs of the disease for cure, the social support and the empowerment of the people is also important. One of the actions that can be undertaken by both the private and the public sectors is information dissemination to the different groups in the society most especially to the rural areas wherein less attention are often received. Outreach can also be another community action that can be undertaken. Breast screening and early diagnosis is often the program promoted to be able to help the people during the early stage of possible escalation of the disease. Such campaigns can be considered to take effect through the movement and organization of the people and addressing the outlook of the population to be able to be open to issues related to the said disease. It is often a challenge for the representatives of such organizations due to the high regard of such groups to culture and tradition. Distance from the medical and health facilities can be considered as another hindrance that can cause the people to ignore medical treatment. These are also issues that are needed to be resolved the advocates to fight breast cancer (Altpeter, Earp & Schopler, 1998). In relation to the actions that are undertaken by the groups that explore the rural areas to assist in eliminating breast cancer, it can be considered as an important responsibility of the representatives to judge and analyze situations to be able to come up with immediate decisions that can assist the patients and other people in the community. It can then be considered essential for representatives of such projects to be able to know pertinent data that can be relayed to the people in a community (Altpeter, Mitchell & Pennell, 2005). B. Actions in the Community Level Another vital action is in terms of the community level policies. The stress of community based action regarding breast cancer can be considered of importance. This can be related to the fact that local communities are the basic unit of the community. The situations related to the breast cancer that are occurring in the community are often the truth that is needed to be resolved (Brody, Rudel, & Tickner, 2005). It can then be surmised that to be able to resolve the issues related to breast cancer and ultimately eliminate the disease, the view of the disease is needed to be perceived in the local community, the local scenario which can differ significantly from the national and international perspective. Another vital action that can be considered important in relation to the social and emotional support system is the family and friends. This can be classified as part of the action of the community and the individual’s families and friends. The help than can be offered by the immediate relatives are essential to the situation of the patient. The importance of such action was ensued due to the observation of the impersonal relationship of medical professionals and practitioners on patients. Due to the fact that emotional and social aspects are also important to the improvement of the condition of the patient, proposition of such actions are integrated in the suggested action for friends and families of the patients, mainly to be able to provide emotional and social support for the patient (Sinding, 2004). C. The Potential Effects of the Different Actions These actions in relation to different issues on breast cancer are considered important in the adjustment of the patient and acceptance of the disease upon diagnosis. These methods are considered effective specifically due to the fact that the breast cancer has emotional effects on the person. On the basis of the gathering of information and continuous increase in the knowledge and information of the regarding breast cancer, the field of research specifically by certain organizations related to the government and those with definite goals to eliminate the disease are dedicated to assimilate pertinent research results. The information is then disseminated to be able to share the knowledge to the public and to empower the people in fighting against the disease (Kreps & Massimilla, 2002). The acceptance of the situation can be considered vital in relieving the stress thus treatments can be undertaken. Also, while being given immediate treatments and procedures the situation of the patient can be studied to find for solutions and target the welfare which can be defined ultimately by being cured. Conclusion In the study undertaken the breast cancer and related issues were viewed at a particular perspective which is through the actions that are undertaken by different groups in the society. It can be surmised in cases of serious ailments such as breast cancer wherein treatment can be a challenge the most effective action that can be undertaken is prevention and positive attitude. The fight can only be possible against the disease if there is substantial knowledge that can be used specifically to be able to face the situations that can be brought by the diagnosis of the cancer. Thus, the important actions that are given by the advocates, the private and public sectors and the friends and families essential to be able to survive through the treatment. On the other hand research and information dissemination can target prevention and early detection and can make the elimination of breast cancer attainable. References Altpeter, M., Earp, J. A. L. and Schopler, J. H. (1998). Promoting Breast Cancer Screening in Rural, African American Communities: The "Science and Art" of Community Health Promotion. Health and Social Work, 23 (2), 1998, p. 104. Altpeter, M., Mitchell, J. and Pennell, J. (2005). Advancing Social Workers' Responsiveness to Health Disparities: The Case of Breast Cancer Screening. Health and Social Work, 30 (3), 2005, p. 221. Agarwal, G., Pradeep, P. V., Aggarwal, V., Yip, C.H. and Cheung, P. S. (2007). Spectrum of Breast Cancer in Asian Women. World J Surg, 2007 Mar 26. Brody, J. G., Rudel, R. A. and Tickner, J. (2005). Community-Initiated Breast Cancer and Environment Studies and the Precautionary Principle. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113 (8), 2005, p. 920. Clark, A. and Fallowfield, L. (1991). Breast Cancer. New York: Tavistock Routledge. Eisenstein, Z. (2001). Manmade Breast Cancers. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. Kreps, G. L. and Massimilla, D. C. (2002). Cancer Communications Research and Health Outcomes: Review and Challenge. Communication Studies, 53 (4), 2002, p. 318. Latosinsky, S., Fradette, K., Lix, L., Hildebrand, K. and Turner, D. (2007). Canadian breast cancer guidelines: have they made a difference? CMAJ, 2007 Mar 13, 176(6), p. 771-6. Woods, L. M., Rachet, B., Cooper, N. and Coleman, M. P. (2007). Predicted trends in long-term breast cancer survival in England and Wales. Br J Cancer, 2007 Apr 9, 96(7), p. 1135-8. Sinding, C. (2004). Informal Care-Two-Tiered Care? the Work of Family Members and Friends in Hospitals and Cancer Centres. Contributors: Christina - author. Journal Title: Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare. Volume: 31. Issue: 3. Publication Year: 2004. Page Number: 69+. 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