Breast Cancer
Having identified healthcare disparities reflected in the incidence of morbidity and mortality of breast cancer among Hispanic/Latina women (HLW), a team of nurses, Gina Miranda-Diaz, MSN, MPH, RN-CBPN-I; Magaly Fernandez-Ghander, BSN, MBA, RN; and Ivette Cora-Gonzalez, MSN, RN, conducted an assessment of breast healthcare disparities in Union City, New Jersey. As a result of those findings, Miranda-Diaz has initiated a navigation program for this population. The program seeks to increase screening rates among HLW, with the goal of reducing mortality through early diagnosis.
The number of women with a personal history of breast cancer is increasing, and these women have a long-term risk of developing a new or recurrent cancer in the conserved breast or a new cancer in the contralateral breast. Consensus-based recommendations for surveillance of breast cancer survivors include annual mammography; however, high-quality evidence is lacking on outcomes of mammography screening in these women.
Sharon Olsen, PhD, RN, AOCN, Deborah Stewart, BSN, RN, CBCN, BPNC-IC, Mary Paterno, MSN, RN, Lillie D. Shockney, RN, BS, MAS, HON-ONN-CG
Breast cancer accounts for 1 in every 3 cancers diagnosed in American women today. About 155,000 women are living with metastatic breast cancer in the United States, and this number is expected to increase to 162,000 in 2011.
