Advances in breast cancer. Implications for nursing care.

The role of the nurse in the care of patients with breast cancer is changing because of the many options available for medical management of the disease. Breast cancer is a treatable disease. Patients survive many years. Throughout the treatment process, patients and families may be faced with numerous decisions involving initial treatment and adjuvant therapy as well as the treatment of metastatic disease. Involvement of the patient and caregiver are crucial in this process, and they must be assisted and supported by nurses who are knowledgeable about the options and the rationale behind each of the treatment options. If this disease continues to occur in 1 out of 10 women, most nurses will be involved with some aspect of the disease either personally or professionally.