Breast cancer is the growth of malignant tissue that starts in breast region and spreads to distant parts of the body. It is most common in women though it can also happen in men to a lower extent. Risk factors are things that heighten the chances of getting cancer (Bunnell, 2000). There are several risk factors for breast cancer, but it is not easy to know how much the factors can contribute. Some of the risk factors for breast cancer include the use of oral contraceptives, dense breast tissue, previous chest radiation, and drinking alcohol among others.
The preventive measures for the disease are primarily reducing the risk factors. Breastfeeding is one of the steps that the health care providers recommend. Some studies suggest that breastfeeding can lower the risk, especially when it is done for at least one year (Thompson & Stopeck, n.d). Diet and vitamin intake also is another preventive measure. Some studies have established that diet plays a significant role in the reduction of chances of getting breast cancer. Most studies have established that breast cancer instances are less in countries where diet has low fats. Screening the individuals with a family history of breast cancer is necessary. Early screening is important so that the tumor cells can be controlled earlier to prevent them from spreading. Another preventive option is the reduction in the use of oral contraceptives especially after the age of thirty-five. It is evident that most of the women above this age who use the family planning pills have higher chances of getting the illness. Drinking alcohol is a risk factor for breast cancer. Even intake of smaller amount increases the chances of getting the disease, therefore, avoiding it is recommended. Lastly but not least, smoking of a cigarette or any tobacco products should be avoided. Accumulated evidence suggests a link between smoking and breast cancer, especially in premenopausal women (Arcangelo, 1994, p. 3). Radiations from the medical imaging methods should be minimized since there is a positive relationship between radiation exposure and this type of cancer.
In the US, there are numerous ways of ensuring drug safety. However, the US Food and Drug Administration is a federal agency that is responsible for conducting and monitoring clinical trials, overseeing the manufacture and sale of new drugs, and ensuring safe drugs before consumption by the public. Although the federal government gives the guidelines for safe drug products, the guidelines for prescribers are set by both the state and the federal governments. Safety promotion and drug harm prevention is the work of FDA and is upheld in the FDA Control Substance Act of 1970 (Thompson & Stopeck, n.d.). It establishes a schedule that has potentially regulated the abuse or misuse of drugs. Schedule drugs can only be prescribed by a medical practitioner who is registered and is approved by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency. This body issues the authorized specialist a number that must be written on the prescription of substance to make it valid. The number also must appear on the prescription that is filled by another state. However, some drugs can be obtained over the counter without any prescription. These drugs must have approval from the FDA to guide the specific uses and the correct doses. These drugs carry the user warnings on the labels though they may delay the diagnosis or treatment of a potentially serious disease.
Gender and genetics are risk factors that make it difficult to make preventive cancer decisions. Being a woman is simply the main risk factor for developing breast cancer. The hormones progesterone and estrogen can promote the growth of breast cancer cells. The hormones are more concentrated in women than in men. Families that have a history of this type of cancer are likely to spread to generations (Pike, 2002). Approximately 5 percent of the cancer cases are hereditary. It is not possible to change the gender of an individual or manipulate the genetic makeup. Therefore, it makes it difficult to make preventive decisions regarding the two risk factors.
The chemical treatment of breast cancer includes some combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. The order of the type of therapy plan depends on the stage and the characteristics of the tumor cells (Bunnell, 2000, p. 380). Local treatment involves the removal of tumors from a limited area such as the breast, lymph nodes, or chest wall. It ensures that cancer does not recur, and the process involves surgery with or without radiation therapy to the affected part. Systemic therapy targets to get rid of cancer cells and it include the use of drug therapy (Arcangelo, 1994, p. 4). This method of treatment includes chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy. Tamoxifen is a drug that is used to block estrogen receptors in the breast cancer cells. The drug can be given to women for five to ten years after surgery to prevent cancer from recurring (Universal Screening for Hearing Loss in Newborns, 2008, p. 143). The short-term effects of the drug treatment include the loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, weakness, and diarrhea. The long-term effects include early menopause, loss of hair, and a higher risk of infections by other diseases since white blood cells are weak during the treatment period. The drugs used increases the risk of heart attacks to the patients.
References
Arcangelo, V. P. (1994). Guest Editorial: The Myth of Independent Practice. Nursing Forum, 29(4), 3-4. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6198.1994.tb00167.x
Bunnell, C. (2000). Current perspectives for treatment of Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer, 7(4), 380-388. doi:10.1007/bf02966408
Pike, M. (2002). The prevention of breast cancer: Is genetics just diversionary? European Journal of Cancer, 38(11), S3. doi:10.1016/s0959-8049(02)80001-6
Thompson, P. A., & Stopeck, A. T. (n.d.). Breast Cancer Prevention. Fundamentals of Cancer Prevention, 347-385. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-68986-7_14
Universal Screening for Hearing Loss in Newborns: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. (2008). PEDIATRICS, 122(1), 143-148. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-2210
