Breast Cancer Health Care And Management Practices In The United Kingdom

Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 1

BREAST CANCER HEALTH CARE AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE

UNITED KINGDOM

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Contemporary Themes in Healthcare Policy and Practice

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Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 2

Executive Summary

This paper will entail the contemporary issues based on the health care and

management of the breast cancer. This cancer has mainly been among the top five causes of

the premature death in the United Kingdom. In the paper there are the descriptions of the key

factors of the management of the treatment of breast cancer and their importance, health care

management practices carried out in the treatment of breast cancer, policies and practices

involves in the cancer treatment management, organizational resources and structures,

prevention of the breast cancer and management theories and issues concerning the treatment

and control of the breast cancer. The comparison on breast cancer in UK with other countries

is also show. In the conclusion part, there are the recommendation that the government of the

United Kingdom should take so as to improve on the policies, practices, and care and

management system involved in the treatment of breast cancer.

Introduction

Breast cancer is among the most common types of cancer in women in the United

Kingdom and the second leading causes of deaths in the cancer related diseases in the

country. This is a cancerous infection that affects the breast and is common in women. The

breast contains some glands that produces milk commonly, lobules, some tubes that helps in

the transportation of milk, duct and a fatty tissues with some connective tissues surrounding

the lobules and the duct, lymphatic vessels and blood vessels known as the stroma (Doll &

Peto, 2005). Cancer is defined as the abnormal growth of body cells which may lead to the

cell invasion and damage the normal cells in the part of the body where the abnormal growth

is taking place (Mozaffarian et al., 2009). This cancer of the breast can start at any of the

described part above. Management and care must be taken in consideration during the

treatment of this disease.

Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 3

Scientist and other researchers have not yet known the main cause of this breast

cancer but some claim that this disease is mainly caused by the by the changes that occur in

the genetic material or the DNA in the cells of the body. The DNA changes are in most cases

related in the people’s daily lifestyle (Andersen et al., 2005). There are some risk factors that

can make one be affected by this common disease not only in the United Kingdom but also in

the whole world. Risk factors are defined as anything that can alter the chance of one getting

the disease. This can be either through increasing or decreasing the chances in any way. This

breast cancer has some risk factors (Richards, 2006). According to the condition of the

disease, there are supposed to be policy and management systems that should be strictly

followed up during the treatment of this disease in the country. This paper explains the

policies and management systems that are affecting the treatment of the breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Health Care Management

The management of this disease of breast cancer is always the same regardless of

what is being done to the patients. This can be by diagnosing the screening of the body so as

to determine whether they are affected or not affected by the breast cancer. The National

Standards of the United Kingdom dealing on the national matters concerning health has laid

down some management guidelines to be followed in the medical field of the breast cancer.

These guidelines are in consideration and been supported by the cancer Network in the

country for quality assurance and administration of the management scheme (Vander Hoorn,

2005).

Breast cancer is a common disease that should be provided up by the breast specialists

from the government in all disciplines. A multidisciplinary care unit should be provided to

manage the cause and prevention of the disease in the country. This unit should comprise of

the breast diagnostic team as many patients lack breast malignancy which may not

Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 4

recognized by the breast clinic whose role is to test and treat breast cancer. This team should

comprise breast specialist mainly being the consultant surgeon with the interest of the

disease, specialist in the breast radiography field, breast care nurse, pathologist, clinical

officer and other administration staff in the team to maintain the organise the working of the

team (Mozaffarian et al., 2009). A treatment team which comprises of the both the medical

and clinical oncologist, data management panel to manage the data on the breast cancer

among others. All this teams have a local and major purpose in managing the breast cancer

operation in the country.

There are also some management guidelines on the breast referrals whose cases

should be managed within a period of forty night and their routine and style be transformed

by doing a performance on their daily protocols according to the records which are written by

the multidisciplinary teams. This diagnosis is mainly aimed at recognising all possible vast

majority majored in the invasiveness of the breast cancer with a minimum standard aimed at

achieving at least a value not less than 90% of the targeted majority group in the country. The

major ones are based on the ones detected through screening and are in most cases too hard to

detect them potentially. The minimum standard of the diagnosis which is non-operative

should be at least 85% for the minority cases in the breast cancer diagnosis of the non-

invasiveness of the affected people in the country (Murray et al., 2005).

For every breast cancer medication, there are the ability of having the treatment

guidelines which are written and should follow the agreed and formulated local breast

multidisciplinary teams which are as described above in this topic. The patient treatment

admitted to the affected people in the country should follow this guidelines, although the

guidelines clearly gives a room for some exceptional depending on the worthiness of the

guidelines and the mode of treatment that the patience is need of in the hospitals since

delaying the treatment may lead to a death of the patient. The exception which are not

Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 5

followed as per the documents should also be written and documented for the continuity care

regarding the named specialist team which is undertaking the treatment process to the patient

who is affected by the breast cancer (Doll & Peto, 2005).

In the process of the following of the confirmation of so called the diagnosis of the

breast cancer and appropriate method of the treatment plan, it clearly indicates that the results

obtained by the specialist should be discussed in between the patience and the specialist who

undertook a treatment to the patience. The patients should also be much encourage and

advised on the ways they can use so to ensure that they bring a friend of theirs or partner after

the results are discussed with them for the diagnosis by the breast cancer specialist. The

person who is allowed by this regulation to conduct such a consultation on the diagnosis

should be member of the multi-disciplinary team discussed above in this topic and a breast

cancer care nurse should also be present and the incidence must be carried out in private

environment (Rodgers et al., 2002).

In management on the side of surgical treatment, the breast cancer patients should be

carried out by the surgeons who always have a special training and also interest in the breast

disease. The personnel should be able to maintain at least ten cancer cases screened annually

as it is averaged for a period of three years. The annual surgical workload done by each

personnel should be provided to the multidisciplinary meeting and an expertise and facilities

be analysed and provide by this team set up by the government to rule on the disciplinary

cases. When the decision between the clinical specialist and the patient has been concurred

that the surgical treatment has to be taken to offer the date is provided and some

reconstruction structures are planned and the logistical planning done. The waiting time for

the patience should not exceed 31 days from the date when the treatment decision was

agreed. All information concerning the surgical treatment should be provided by the clinical

officer and an operation diagnostic purpose to be carried out. A service that is pre-operative

Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 6

should be investigated such as body scan of cathode tube, chest x-ray and others so that they

will not be the primary cause of the breast cancer on the patience (Dreyer et al., 2006).

Policy and Practices on Breast Cancer

The London Cancer Alliance commonly known as LCA has a guidelines provided by

this body on Breast Cancer based clinics that multidisciplinary the diagnosis guide, holistic

care and some treatment that supports the breast cancer patients in the country. These

guidelines were developed so as to act as group pathway to conform the practices that are

carried out on the treatment of the breast cancer nationally and internationally. Expertise from

the country have always been ranging the clinics that deal with breast cancer in the country

and this has subsequently lead to the reflection of a wider pathway on the breast cancer. The

evidence that provides the information on the clinic based set up have a protocol that aspects

out this pathways on the breast cancer. It has also become flexible to reflect the best practices

that are assigned up by this body to govern the treatment and control of the breast cancer in

the country (Ezzati et al., 2005).

Due to the guidelines set up by the LCA in the United Kingdom, there are some breast

care nursing under a trained and specialised nurses who have the authority of taking care of

the breast and providing the available information to a psychologists if any support is needed

to both the breast cancer patients and family members at all stages of the pathway. Before

any breast cancer diagnosis is carried out, a palliative care is strictly taken care of to the

patient and then some treatment and other follow ups are then done afterwards. This is a good

evidence that shows the demonstration of the values required in the breast care nursing health

care by the specialist nurses. According to this guidelines, the minimum set standard is set at

a point such that all patients with the breast cancer disease is that they should the hospitals

where their diagnosis are being done with their telephone detail contact to the key worker of

Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 7

the hospital who is usually the breast care nurse in charge of that hospital the department of

the breast care. The aim of the nurses is to ensure that the patient understands the condition,

involve them in discussion, support their advices and reduce their somatic symptoms (Vander

Hoorn et al., 2005).

A physiotherapy trust practice service is required to the patients with the breast cancer

for both the outpatients and inpatients which specifically aims at restoring the independence

that functions and maintain the well-being across all the pathways of the breast cancer

patients. This service is done by a Physiotherapists who plays a very important role in the

rehabilitations of a breast cancer patient. This Physiotherapists should be mobile due to the

state of the disease, be an expert in the field of breast and surgical operations, be able to

educate the patients on the cause, prevention and effects of the disease and also advise them

on the same and lastly should be having enough ability to optimise the functions of the

disease (Rehm et al., 2009).

Occupational therapy is another service that the LCA set as a guidelines to help and

control in the treatment of the breast cancer. The aim of this service is to ensure that the

patient achieves the optimal independence function that is based on the problems that the

patient is undergoing. Based on this service is led by the diagnosis of the breast cancer and

some care and assistance are carried out. This should be under areas like the activities that

dignifies the treatment of the breast cancer, ensuring that the patient is able to cope with the

ability, managing the lifestyle of the patients among others (Sasieni et al., 2009).

Organizational Resources and Structures

Various organizations in United Kingdom have shown a lot of effort to venture in the

cancer research field. This has helped a lot in the discovery of the currently available

Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 8

medicines. Such organizations have also helped a lot in educating people on management of

cancer. Some of these organizations are discussed below.

Cancer Research UK

This is a non-profit organization which was formed in the year 2002 with the aim of

helping cancer patients. The main aim of establishing the organization was to help reduce the

mortality rate resulting from cancer infections. Another aim is to educate the masses on how

to treat cancer and helping people understand better the cause and complexities related to

cancer. The institution has worked hard to provide suitable environment for research and

getting professionals needed to carry out research. With research being the main focus of the

organization, others are information and educating people (Jenkims et al., 2002).

The British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

The organization provides people with qualified councillors who offer guidance to

cancer patients and the public on how to deal with the disease. Their services can be booked

all over the United Kingdom. The specialists help the patients deal with problems like

stigmatization, lifestyle and precaution measures (Foster et al., 2010).

UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

The organization’s main aim is to promote regulation of counselors and therapists.

Most of the big organizations offering training to counselors and therapists in UK are

members of this organization. The national register for psychotherapists is maintained by

UKCP. The organization is fully dedicated in ensuring that the cases of deaths due to cancer

new infections are kept as low as possible (Vander Hoorn et al., 2005).

Preventive Measures by the Government

Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 9

The UK government has facilitated ease of access to drugs which are used to treat

cancer patients all over the country. This has been greatly achieved through distribution of

drugs like bisphosphonates and tamoxifen which reduce the risk of this chronic disease

especially to women. Fortunately, many cancer treatment centers have been established in

various locations enabling cancer patients to be able to access those services and facilities

very easily and cheaply also. The government has also taken a step ahead to subsidize the

cost of drugs such as bisphosphonates and tamoxifen especially in public hospitals. Before

the government had taken this important measure, it was very expensive to access such

services. Private hospitals and the associated manufacturing companies had hiked the cost so

high due to the increasing demand to the extent that only the rich could afford that (Forster et

al., 2010).

Also, United Kingdom government has done a lot to educate the citizens through

seminars and advertisement through social Medias. The related governmental health sectors

have funded the exercise to educate people on the best way to handle cancer patients,

precautions necessary and the importance of taking action immediately to treat the disease.

This has helped a lot in reducing the risk of death from the disease. People have gained

knowledge on what are the necessary requirements for cancer patients in terms of diet and

treatment. The government has spent a lot in funding researches on cancer treatment and also

in funding institutions which offer cancer treatment studies. Also, modern equipments have

been installed in various public hospitals (Ezzati et al., 2005).

Management Issues and Theories

There many ways of managing cancer disease. The UK government has participated a

lot to ensure that deaths from cancer infections have gone down significantly. There are

various methods and ways to treat cancer depending on doctor’s advice to patients. The

Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 10

following practices help a lot in cancer management and theories like system, wagner,

distributive, leadership and equality.

Diet and lifestyle

Researches by various institutions show that, regular exercises reduce chances of

breast cancer and any other forms of cancer. Doing exercises help the body to burn excess or

unnecessary fats associated with cancer growth. Maintaining a healthy weight too reduce the

risk of cancer infection and it is advisable especially to women past menopause so as to

reduce the level of oestrogen in the body which is related to the increase in risk of cancer

infection (Ezzati et al., 2005).

Breastfeeding and Mastectomy

Researches show that, women who breastfeed have a lower risk of cancer infection.

This is associated with the fact that breastfeeding women have lower oestrogen level in their

bodies since they don’t ovulate regularly (Daniel et al., 2011). Mastectomy is basically

removing the breast through a surgery. It is used to treat cancer by removing much of the

breast tissues up to about 90% of the tissue. Even though this method of treatment has several

disadvantages like loss of body shape and so, researchers have come up with several

procedures to correct the same. For instance, Breast reconstruction is carried out where body

tissues from other body parts are used to replace those tissues removed from the breast during

mastectomy. An alternative to this is the breast prosthesis where an artificial breast is used to

maintain the body picture (Jenkims et al., 2002).

International Comparison

United Kingdom is among the highest countries in the world which are highly

affected by the breast cancer. The leading countries in the world are Denmark, Ireland, and

Australia among others. Denmark is leading with a statistical value of 326.1 per millions of

Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 11

breast cancer victims. United Kingdom is ranked number 22 globally with approximately

266.9 per million patients.

Conclusion

From the above report on the care and practices on the breast cancer in the United

Kingdom, it is clear that the disease is among the dangerous and the second in the largest

number of deaths in women. It can then be concluded that, the government of the United

Kingdom should be recommended to ensure that the mentioned management on health care

and treatment of the breast in the country should be followed keenly. The key features are

also described, organizational resources, management issues and theories on the breast

cancer. This is clear that the disease should be prevented using the preventive measure and in

case of any patient the required guidelines should be followed. All polies, practices and

guidelines in this report should be followed up in treatment of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Health Care and Management Practices 12

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