TITLE:
The Role of Breast Care Nurses on Breast Reconstruction
AUTHORS:
Sonay Baltacı Göktaş
KEYWORDS:
Breast Cancer, Breast Reconstruction, Nurse, Care
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.2 No.6,
June
17,
2015
ABSTRACT: Breast cancer is known as the most common malignant tumours among women
and constitutes about 30% of cancers in women. Paying attention to symptoms
coming out of breasts is important to early diagnosis and treatment and the prevention of breast cancer related
deaths. Body image disorder arising from breast cancer treatment leads to
physical and psychological problems in patients and causes significant
disturbances in the life quality of patients after mastectomy. Removing of breasts, which is highly important for
women with surgical intervention due to cancer, poses a threat against
the feelings of sexuality, maternity and attraction and the body image of
women. The breast reconstruction is quite important for these patients in terms
of protecting their physical integrity, healing their psychological problems. And
it is also important for them to continue their normal lives by regaining self
esteem. Breast care nurses must lend assistance to patient by perceiving her
diagnosis, exactly understanding the treatment methods, and facilitating the process
of decision-making about the option of reconstruction. Therefore, the nurses
should provide necessary care, information and support. Besides, it is very
important to understand what reconstruction means to woman. Emphasized in this
compilation is the importance of the consulting role of breast care nurse in
the reconstructive surgery to be implemented on patients underwent mastectomy.