Cancer And Women's And Men's Health | The American Cancer So

Cancer and Women's and Men's HealthThe American Cancer Soci

Describe available preventive services that providers might recommend for patients at risk of the type of cancer you selected. Explain how the factors you selected might impact decisions related to preventive services. Describe drug treatment options for patients diagnosed with the type of cancer you selected. Explain the short-term and long-term implications of these treatments.

Paper For Above instruction

Cancer remains a significant global health concern, with specific types affecting women and men differently. Among these, breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men are notably prevalent. Early detection and preventive services are crucial in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with these cancers. This paper explores preventive strategies, considers how individual factors influence decision-making, and examines drug treatments along with their short-term and long-term implications.

Preventive Services for Breast and Prostate Cancer

Preventive services are essential strategies to identify individuals at increased risk and implement measures to reduce that risk or facilitate early detection. For breast cancer, prominent preventive measures include routine mammography screening, clinical breast exams, and risk assessment models like the Gail model to identify high-risk women (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force [USPSTF], 2016). Lifestyle interventions such as maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and limiting alcohol intake are also recommended (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2012). For men at risk of prostate cancer, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, digital rectal exams (DRE), and counseling on familial risk factors are primary preventive measures (Moyer, 2012). Additionally, advising patients on lifestyle modifications, including diet and exercise, can contribute to risk reduction.

Impact of Factors on Preventive Decision-Making

Two significant factors influencing preventive strategies are genetics and ethnicity. Genetic predispositions, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in women, substantially increase breast cancer risk, prompting recommendations for earlier and more frequent screening or genetic counseling (Kuchenbaecker et al., 2017). Family history and genetic testing guide personalized prevention plans. Ethnicity also plays a crucial role; for instance, African American women exhibit higher mortality rates from breast cancer, often due to disparities in access to screening and treatment (DeSantis et al., 2017). Tailoring preventive services considering these factors enhances early detection and improves outcomes by addressing individual risk profiles and health inequities.

Drug Treatment Options and Implications

For diagnosed patients, various drug treatments are available with distinct short-term and long-term implications. In breast cancer, options include hormone therapy (e.g., tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors) and targeted therapies (e.g., trastuzumab for HER2-positive cancers). These treatments can reduce recurrence risk and improve survival (Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group, 2012). However, short-term side effects such as hot flashes, fatigue, and increased risk of thromboembolic events are common; long-term implications include hormonal imbalances and potential cardiovascular risks.

Prostate cancer treatment often involves androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), chemotherapeutic agents, or novel targeted therapies like enzalutamide. ADT effectively reduces tumor growth but is associated with side effects such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular issues, and metabolic syndrome in the long term (Shen & Taylor, 2020). Chemotherapy’s short-term effects include fatigue and immunosuppression, whereas long-term effects may involve secondary malignancies or organ toxicity. Balancing treatment benefits with potential adverse outcomes is critical in clinical decision-making.

Conclusion

Preventive services remain a cornerstone in combating breast and prostate cancers, especially when tailored to individual risk factors such as genetics and ethnicity. Early detection through screening programs enhances prognosis and reduces healthcare costs. Drug treatments offer effective options for management but require careful consideration of their short-term discomforts and long-term health consequences. A comprehensive approach that integrates risk assessment, personalized preventive strategies, and vigilant management of treatment side effects is essential in improving health outcomes for patients at risk of or diagnosed with these cancers.

References

• American Cancer Society. (2012). Cancer facts & figures 2012. Atlanta: American Cancer Society.
• DeSantis, C., Ma, J., Goding Sauer, A., et al. (2017). Breast cancer statistics, 2017. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 67(6), 434–451.
• Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group. (2012). Aromatase inhibitors versus Tamoxifen in early breast cancer: patient-level meta-analysis of the randomised trials. The Lancet, 379(9815), 773–783.
• Kuchenbaecker, K. B., Hopper, J. L., Barnes, D. R., et al. (2017). Risks of breast, ovarian, and contralateral breast cancers for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. JAMA, 317(23), 2402–2416.
• Moyer, V. A. (2012). Screening for prostate cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Annals of Internal Medicine, 157(2), 120–134.
• Shen, M., & Taylor, M. (2020). Advances in prostate cancer management. Nature Reviews Urology, 17(3), 151–165.
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2016). Breast cancer: Screening. Retrieved from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org