The nurse's role in promoting breast cancer screening

Abstract

Early detection offers women the best chance of finding breast cancer early when it is most treatable. Both the ACS and the NCI now recommend mammography and CBE for women ages 40 and older. These organizations also recommend monthly BSE as a positive health practice. Nurses can play an important role in promoting screening by: (a) teaching women about screening guidelines, the benefits and limitations of screening, and risk factors for breast cancer and (b) helping women to reduce or eliminate barriers to screening.