FEEL OF WOMEN AT A HIGH RISK FOR BREAST CANCER AND MEETING, THEIR NEEDS FOR KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT

Breast cancer is still one of the most serious problems which increase morbidity and mortality among women. One million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and breast cancer accounts for 18% of all cancer cases. The high rate of breast cancer increases both the worries about and the awareness in the disease. The major risk factors for breast cancer are advanced age, the gender female, family history of the disease, atypical hyperplasia and mutations in BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 genes. Criteria used to evaluate the risk of breast cancer are (a) history of breast or ovarian cancer in the first degree or the second degree relatives, (b) bilateral or premenopausal breast cancer in the first degree or the second degree relatives, (c) atypical hyperplasia (d) insitu lobular carcinoma and (e) gene test positive for breast cancer. Several studies conducted so far have revealed that women at a high risk of breast cancer have such feelings as fear, anxiety, uncertainty and hopelessness. Nurses play an important role in breast cancer risk assessment by using risk evaluation tools,, education, psycho-social support, protection of health and management of cancer risk. Nurses should offer education, in both written forms and oral, about breast cancer risks and act as advisers in order to help women to understand the severity of breast cancer risk.