In the United States, more than 230,000 women and approximately 2,600 men receive a breast cancer diagnosis each year. Addressing the physical demands of the disease, however, is just one part of a comprehensive treatment regimen for breast cancer; treatment must account for patients' psychological needs as well.
In this post, we aim to cut through the media “noise” by collecting some of the most honest, insightful, and poignant pieces of journalism written about breast cancer over the past several years. These articles have been carefully hand-selected to help readers consider the broad spectrum of facts and opinions available today. Each has helped further the dialogue and deepen our awareness and understanding of this damaging disease.
Cancer advisory groups continue to disagree on the efficacy of the breast self-exam (BSE). Lacking sufficient documentation of reduced deaths, balanced with unnecessary follow-up testing, some organizations have recommended discontinuing the breast self-exam. Others acknowledge that BSEs serve a role in “breast awareness,” which is a more comprehensive approach including education, anatomy, self-advocacy, and understanding.
Mammography has been shown to reduce breast cancer mortality by 30-50%. Primary care providers recommend that women receive a mammogram as they grow older and their risk of breast cancer increases. Mammograms are widely used because they can detect tumors before they can be felt and often before they spread.
For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Nursing@Simmons put together the following resource guide to highlight some of the groups and organizations that serve patients, caregivers, families, and anyone impacted by breast cancer. The list includes resources related to financial assistance, community-based support, advocacy, and coping with the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
