Breast Cancer: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management Techniques

Research Essay on Breast Cancer
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Due Date Research Essay on Breast Cancer Introduction Breast cancer remains the leading malignancy in females globally. Statistics indicate that the disease affected up to 570,000 women in 2015 and that experts diagnose over 1.5 million new cases every year worldwide (Sun et al., 2017). The authors further revealed that approximately 30% of newly diagnosed cancer cases in America among the female population belong to this category. The concerning aspect of breast cancer is that they are metastatic, indicating that they commonly spread to other distant parts of the body, making them challenging to cure. However, Harbeck et al. (2019) state that early diagnosis increases the chances of recovery and survival from this debilitating disease. As a result, researching the condition is critical because of the immediate experiences as my 66-year-old mother struggled to survive this menace. Her unfortunate events stirred the curiosity to further research and learn about the condition. As an African American, it was concerning to know that the disease disproportionately affects this racial group in the U.S. due to specific cultural and genetic factors (Churpeck et al., 2015). Thus, this realization demonstrates the value of exploring breast cancer, its epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and management techniques to improve the disease’s quality of life. Research Outline Thesis Statement: This realization demonstrates the value of exploring breast cancer, its epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and management techniques of improving the quality of life after the disease.

1. Background of the disease

• Description of what breast cancer entails and areas affected by the illness
• Different types or stages of breast cancers and probability of recovery (Stringer-Reasor et al., 2021)

1. Breast cancer epidemiological profile

• Statistical trends of breast cancers globally and in the U.S., including prevalence, incidents, and mortality rates
• Ethnic and cultural linkages of the disease, with emphasis on African American
• Explore genetic predisposition and the emergence of breast cancer in some racial groups (Churpek et al., 2015)
• Contribution of environmental and lifestyle factors in the onset of breast cancer

1. Pathophysiology of breast cancer

• Initiation of breast cancer, including immune response and molecular alterations (Harbeck et al., 2019)

1. Breast cancer diagnosis

• Various screening processes used by healthcare providers - emphasize mammography, ultrasonography, and biopsy (Sun et al., 2017)
• Conditions or factors that illustrate the positive diagnosis
• Explore prognostic elements that inform treatment decisions

1. Treatment protocols used

• Preferential treatment methods and their recommendations based on cancer stage, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy
• Management and ways of improving the quality of life of breast cancer patients and survivors

1. Assess the impact on quality of life (Paxton et al., 2019)

• Explore approaches for improving aesthetic appeal and other quality of life aspects.

1. Conclusion

Annotated Bibliography Harbeck, N., Penault-Llorca, F., Cortes, J., Gnant, M., Houssami, N., Poortmans, P., ... & Cardoso, F. (2019). Breast cancer. Nature reviews Disease primers, 5(1), 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-019-0111-2.             Harbeck et al. (2019) present a comprehensive exploration of breast cancer. The authors underline the seriousness of the disease by highlighting its prevalence at the global and national levels, focusing on the United States. They demonstrate its concerning impact on women and illustrate its disparate prevalence in African American women due to diverse lifestyles and genetic traits that predispose them to the development of the disease. Another critical aspect of this article is that it distinguishes the various molecular features that lead to the emergence of breast cancer. For instance, the writers flag HER2, hormone receptor activation, and BRCA mutations. Exposing these aspects makes it easy for a reader to understand the primary triggers or factors that make women vulnerable to the disease. This resource further demonstrates its richness in information about breast cancer research by exploring the diagnostic and treatment strategies. It also clarifies that the treatment varies based on molecular subtype and progresses to underline the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing the disease. For instance, it indicates the primary methods include systemic therapy and locoregional techniques. The diverse concepts presented in this article make it ideal for contributing to the current research about this topic. Sun, Y. S., Zhao, Z., Yang, Z. N., Xu, F., Lu, H. J., Zhu, Z. Y., ... & Zhu, H. P. (2017). Risk factors and preventions of breast cancer. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 13(11), 1387 -1397. /pmc/articles/PMC5715522/pdf/ijbsv13p1387.pdf.             In this journal article, Sun et al. (2017) focus on the various risks related to breast cancer and the different prevention techniques. The authors start by providing a detailed background discussion to unearth the current global status of this disease. It indicates that breast cancer constitutes up to 30% of all cancers among females. The disease is also th...