You Can Join the Fight Against Breast Cancer
In the United States, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women. This October, help the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) contribute to advancing the world’s most promising breast cancer research.
Every year, approximately 250,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and nearly 2,300 in men. It’s likely that we all know someone who has been affected by this disease — whether a patient, friend, neighbor, coworker or even a family member.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, allowing all of us to place a special focus on the importance of screening and to raise awareness of the ongoing efforts to bring this disease to an end. By joining together, we can work to boost advances in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, metastasis and survivorship. In addition, by joining AANP this month using promo code BCRF20, you will also directly support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF)!
Breast Cancer Education, Practice Support and Research From AANP
The fight against breast cancer begins with screening. That’s why AANP members have exclusive access to the Clinical Practice Brief: Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Summary, which summarizes guidelines from the American Cancer Society (ACS), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
Another benefit of AANP membership is a free subscription to the Journal for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (JAANP), which has recently published four articles addressing breast cancer. Log in to your AANP account to view the full articles:
- “Standardizing mammogram screening in primary care: Integrating an evidence-based approach” – This article evaluates current literature on the possible risks, benefits and limitations associated with breast cancer screening for women aged 40–49.
- “Improving mammography through effective screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment at a rural health center” – This article presents how one rural health center planned to raise its rate of screening mammograms while increasing the use of evidence-based guidelines and decision aids using a number of interventions.
- “Breast cancer risk assessment: Evaluation of screening tools for genetics referral” – This article compares the effectiveness of five breast cancer risk screening tools on how well they identified women at risk for breast cancer.
- “Genomics and breast cancer screening” – This article explores how genetic testing protocols enable women at risk for breast cancer to take preventative action, such as through medication, surgery or intensive screenings.
The Journal for Nurse Practitioners (JNP), for which AANP members also receive a complimentary subscription, has recently published:
- “Hereditary Cancer Syndrome Recognition and Testing: Beyond BRCA” – This article reviews hereditary cancer syndromes that are not as well known as hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome caused by BRCA1/2 mutations, as well as barriers to diagnosing these syndromes and the role of primary care nurse practitioners (NPs).
- “Patient With Questions About Cancer Risk” – This article introduces a case study of a woman who survived breast cancer at age 25 and basal cell carcinoma at age 33, which is examined under the lens of hereditary cancer syndromes.
- “Breast Cancer Risk Related to Combined Oral Contraceptive Use” – This article reviews literature from 2010 to 2020 on breast cancer incidence among average- and high-risk women who have used combined oral contraceptives.
- “Comparing the Various Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines” – This article compares the evidence-based screening guidelines for breast cancer and stresses the need for shared decision-making practices to educate and support patients.
Additional Tools and Resources
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has organized the Bring Your Brave campaign to share information about breast cancer to women younger than age 45. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect time to share the campaign’s stories from real women whose lives have been affected by this disease. Education is also available for health care providers, including a free video on early onset breast cancer, risk assessment and management guidelines and a specialized risk assessment tool for your patients.
In addition to screening, research has found that NPs can have a strong impact on cancer survivorship care by serving in various roles and settings throughout the cancer trajectory to improve patient outcomes. In fact, one study found that NP-led survivorship clinics, with increased guidance for primary care providers, can improve patients’ quality of and satisfaction with their survivorship care. Likewise, a 2014 survey of 759 breast cancer survivors found no difference in rates of cancer screening (colon, cervical and breast) among provider type, although a significantly larger proportion of patients who last saw an NP reported that they had discussed physical activity, nutrition and weight compared to other health care provider types.
Get Involved
During October 2020, AANP is partnering with BCRF to help fund critical breast cancer research. For every new member who joins using promo code BCRF20 in the month of October, AANP will donate $10 to BCRF.
BCRF is a nonprofit organization that provides critical funding for cancer research worldwide. Since it was founded in 1993, BCRF has raised more than half a billion dollars for lifesaving research.
You make a difference in the lives of your patients every day. By joining AANP’s 114,000 members this month*, you can help make a difference in the fight to eliminate breast cancer — and provide additional support to The Voice of the Nurse Practitioner® as we work together to improve patient care and advance the NP role. Let’s end breast cancer together!