Breast Cancer Treatment Essay 

The article that I chose to review for this paper appeared in the journal The American Journal of Nursing and is entitled ‘Lymphodema after breast cancer treatment.’ It is published by Bonnie Davis. I will begin by giving a summary of the findings of the paper and will then discuss in detail what it was that I found especially interesting about the information that it provides for those who are interested in the treatments for breast cancer. Breast Cancer Treatment Essay Paper

The article covers cases of Lymphodema after breast cancer treatment and attempts to establishes what causes such cases and how they can be effectively prevented. The article begins by defining Lymphodema as something that results from a damaged or blocked lymphatic system, which causes proteins and fluids to remain in intersitial spaces after treatment has been given for breast cancer. If these fluids are not removed then they can lead to a patient becoming increasingly vulnerable to infection that will in its turn lead to a progressive worsening of the original condition (Davis, 1995, p 24). The article goes onto draw on existing research in order to suggest possible kinds of treatment and prevention. It states that avoiding high altitude while receiving treatment may well be an effective mode of prevention. Davis also notes that avoiding minor traumas such a animal scratches, insect bite, sport injuries or anything that may lead to an infection that may in itself trigger the condition are also highly effective means of controlling the condition, although it is clear that these measures may not be possible in all cases. Breast Cancer Treatment Essay Paper