A new study has revealed women with breast cancer are receiving more personalised patient care.
The Medical Journal of Australia research shows that improving a patient’s quality of life has become increasingly important, with higher survival rates now meaning 90 per cent of women survive a breast cancer diagnosis.
The study details a number of changes in the surgical and prevention fields, including offering immediate breast reconstructions to women where appropriate, and providing chemotherapy before surgical treatment, as this results in lower mastectomy rates.
Other changes include providing more information to patients and their doctors about breast cancer risks from lifestyle choices, family history and previous hormonal exposures.
Training breast surgeons now also have access to a Graduate Certificate in Surgery (Breast Surgery) to broaden their knowledge base.
One in nine women will get breast cancer, and regular breast screens are the best way to find breast cancer early, before any symptoms are noticed and when treatment is likely to be most successful.
Ideally, treatment of women with breast cancer involves a range of medical, nursing and supportive care specialties to give each woman access to the best available individualised treatment.
The Medical Journal of Australia research can be found here.
