Decision-making in breast cancer

Abstract

Quality of survival of an individual with breast cancer can depend upon that individual's sense of control over life events surrounding disease management and treatment. Anxiety and fear may be lessened, and personal control over life with breast cancer increased, if the patient has sufficient understanding of the disease, treatment and side effects through teaching and counselling by knowledgeable oncology nurses. The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding among nurses of the needs of their patients with breast cancer through the development of a profile of the dilemmas and decisiona inherent in this disease experience.