Causes of Breast Cancer in Woman Older than 45 Years Old

  • Asbel Morales Alvarez, BSN, RN-BC.
  • Universidad Ana G. Méndez
  • NUR502: Nursing Science and Research Process 
  • Professor: Dr. Gisela Llamas
  • January 22, 2023.

Causes of Breast Cancer in Women Older than 45 Years

Breast cancer is a global health issue that greatly affects women across all age groups, but those above 40 years are perceived to be at higher risk of contracting the illness. Several countries record higher breast cancer figures among their population annually. Nevertheless, it remains a leading diagnosed cancer type among women in most African countries and is prevalent among women below 65 years (Wondimagegnehuet al., 2022). Contrastingly, the World Health Organization describes women above 40 as more at risk of developing the condition globally. Breast cancer occurs as a result of more than a single factor. As such, some of the causes of breast cancer among women over 45 years include age, family history, obesity, harmful alcohol consumption, exposure to radiation therapy (García-Albéniz et al., 2020), and not engaging in any physical activity.

Age contributes to women getting diagnosed with breast cancer since statistics show that a larger percentage of women over 50 years are at risk of developing the condition (Wondimagegnehuet al., 2022). Women are at higher risk of developing breast cancer when a member of their family or several family members have had the condition. Also, obesity that emerges after menopause makes a woman susceptible to the illness compared to those with healthier weight standards. Unhealthy alcohol intake for women places them in danger and enhances their chances of developing breast cancer. Similarly, women over 50 years are known to engage in minimal physical activity, which also expands their chances of having breast cancer. The purpose of this literature review is to analyze the causes of breast cancer in women older than 45 years old.

 

Significance of the Practice Problem

The purpose of the literature review is to identify and discuss the various causes of breast cancer among women older than 45 as well as examine the various factors that increase women in this age group’s chances of developing the condition. Data from the World Health Organization on breast cancer indicates that in 2020, about 2.3 million females were diagnosed with breast cancer; it also indicates that it formed the cause of death for over 680,000 women worldwide. Notably, the mortality rate is expected to rise in the next two decades (Wondimagegnehu et al., 2022). Almost 50% of the reported breast cancer deaths emerge in middle and low-income nations; Africa is one of the continents with enormous mortality rate statistics associated with breast cancer (Wondimagegnehu et al., 2022).

Notably, García-Albéniz et al. (2020) recognize older women’s exposure to toxic therapy (radiation therapy) exacerbates their risk of developing breast cancer owing to their increased comorbidity than other age groups. Therefore, women partaking in screening mammography leads to a decline in incidences of breast cancer in their advanced stages. Besides, a study conducted by (Bradley et al., 2020) recognized that the integration of insulin glargine does not increase the risk of women above 65 developing breast cancer. However, chemotherapy’s role in speeding up aging among cancer patients places women in this cohort at more risk of developing advanced-stage breast cancer (Chen et al., 2022).

Research Question

What are the Causes of Breast Cancer in Women Older than 45 Years old?

Objectives

  1. Identify the Causes of Breast Cancer in Women Older than 45 years old.
  2. Describe the different methods use for Breast Cancer in Women Older than 45 years old.
  3. Analyze the advantages of findings proper treatment for different Causes of Breast Cancer in Women Older than 45 years old.

Theoretical Framework

A theoretical framework offers a structure that supports a theory, and in this research study, the theory applied is the self-care deficit theory developed by Dorothea Orem. She was a nurse theorist, and apart from the self-care deficit theory, she also developed the Orem nursing model. Orem was born in 1914 in Baltimore and was the younger of two siblings. She began her education in Baltimore, where she graduated in 1931 and advanced to receive a diploma from the hospital school of nursing. She developed the self-care deficit theory between 1959 and 2001.

The self-care theory explains that patients can recover better if they maintain some form of independence in their self-care. This implies that a nurse should not offer all care activities to a patient. Therefore, in her theory, she encourages patients to practice self-care while receiving care from nurses, as this would improve their well-being. Quality life, therefore, begins with the patient, which is an aspect of self-reliance. Therefore, to assist nurses in achieving a better outcome in healthcare, patients must also have some form of independence in self-care (Gonzalo, 2023).

This theory explains that patients have the right to exercise self-care, and as such, I would apply the theory to the research by urging female breast cancer patients older than 45 years to exercise some form of self-care. Simple activities such as walking regularly, taking a bath, and crafting could work as a form of self-care (Bradley et al., 2020). These practices will assist in improving the quality of life for female breast cancer patients older than 45 years. Additional self-care practices can also include sharing with family and relaxing. Therefore, any other form of self-care by nurses is encouraged to improve the quality of health for female breast cancer patients older than 45 years (Chen et al., 2022).