Assignment: Cancer And Women's And Men's Health

The American Cancer Society estimates that by the end of 2012, more than 226,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 241,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (American Cancer Society, 2012a; American Cancer Society 2012b). With such prevalence of women's and men's cancers, patient education and preventive services are essential. In clinical settings, advanced practice nurses must assist physicians in educating patients on risk factors, preventive services, and for patients diagnosed with cancer, on potential drug treatments. The clinical implications of women's and men's cancer greatly depend on early detection, which is primarily achieved through preventive services. In this Assignment, you consider the short-term and long-term implications of cancer and drug treatments associated with women's and men's health, as well as appropriate preventive services.

To prepare: • Select a type of cancer associated with women's or men's health such as breast, cervical, or ovarian cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.

• Locate and review articles examining the type of cancer you selected.

• Review the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force article in the Learning Resources. Think about available preventive services that providers might recommend for patients at risk of this type of cancer.

• Select two of the following factors: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior. Reflect on how these factors might impact decisions related to preventive services.

• Consider drug treatment options for patients diagnosed with the type of cancer you selected including short-term and long-term implications of the treatments.

Write a 2- to 3- page paper that addresses the following:

• 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.