"Most think that a diagnosis of cancer will end their life, when in reality it changes their life. Life after cancer may get back to normal, but it will never be the same" (Kneece, 2009, p.242). Visualize leaving the physician's office overhearing those words you have been diagnosed with Breast cancer. Is this really happening? Are their treatments/remedies out there for you? Why did my superior let this happen to me? In today's society Breast Cancer is effecting woman, and it is the leading cause of death. Every day the older women population faces fighting this disease on a day to day basis. Breast cancer is mostly diagnosed in women, however can also be found in men. Learning you have Breast Cancer is not the real enemy, but the late detection of finding out you have this disease. This paper discuss the early detections, risk factors, treatments, emotional, and spiritual needs in the older adult woman population with Breast Cancer.
"In the United States, it is the leading cause of death from all causes in women between the ages of 40 and 44 years" (Banasik & Copstead, 2010, p.784). Breast Cancer continues to take the lives of women living in this large segment of population. American Cancer Society shares that, "Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body" (American Cancer Society, 2014, para). Some tumors are considered benign, and are not harmful in nature. These benign tumors are not cancerous, and usually do not spread. Treating Breast cancer during the early stages will usually help with health outcomes, and successful treatments. Regular health screening examinations by health care professionals is one way to early detection in Breast Cancer. One important clinical tool being used with healthcare providers for breast cancer screening is Mammography.