The Role of Breast Care Nurses on Breast Reconstruction

Breast cancer is known as the most common malignant tumours among women and constitutes about 30% of cancers in women. Paying attention to symptoms coming out of breasts is important to early diagnosis and treatment and the prevention of breast cancer related deaths. Body image disorder arising from breast cancer treatment leads to physical and psychological problems in patients and causes significant disturbances in the life quality of patients after mastectomy. Removing of breasts, which is highly important for women with surgical intervention due to cancer, poses a threat against the feelings of sexuality, maternity and attraction and the body image of women. The breast reconstruction is quite important for these patients in terms of protecting their physical integrity, healing their psychological problems. And it is also important for them to continue their normal lives by regaining self esteem. Breast care nurses must lend assistance to patient by perceiving her diagnosis, exactly understanding the treatment methods, and facilitating the process of decision-making about the option of reconstruction. Therefore, the nurses should provide necessary care, information and support. Besides, it is very important to understand what reconstruction means to woman. Emphasized in this compilation is the importance of the consulting role of breast care nurse in the reconstructive surgery to be implemented on patients underwent mastectomy.