Breast cancer is the second leading cancer killer in women aged 15-54 (Komatsu, Hayashi, & Suzuki, 2012). The number of women who get diagnosed with the disease increases each year. Early detection of the disease increases the chances of survival of a patient. Therefore, early intervention through education, screening and early treatment is very important in monitoring and avoidance of death from breast cancer. A lot of people have been affected by breast cancer either directly or indirectly. The community has, therefore, decided to take action to prevent the disease by engaging in activities aimed at collecting funds for breast health education, breast cancer screening, treatment and breast cancer research. Some of the activities the community involves itself include community breast awareness campaigns, sponsorship and fundraising as well as marketing. Community health nurses play a key role in all these activities.
The first method through which the community collects funds is through hosting events and campaigns whose proceeds go to the funding of programs related to breast cancer awareness, its prevention and research. The campaigns are also aimed at educating the public on the detection, causes, treatment and support of the survivors. The progress made has helped to improve the quality of life of those who have been affected by cancer giving them hope of living a better life. In the campaigns nurses are fully involved playing a key role in acting as facilitators who provide education on breast cancer; they also influence individuals to get engaged in community activities aimed at preventing the disease.
Another activity to raise funds in order to support breast health education, breast cancer screening, treatment and breast cancer research is done through selling merchandise related to awareness on breast cancer. During the breast cancer awareness campaigns, the organizers make T-shirts, caps and ribbons which are sold to the participants to collect funds. The participants wear ribbons and T-shirts in support of those who have been affected by the disease. The nurses play an important role and act as a source of information during the marketing.
Sponsorship and fundraising are also used to fund breast cancer awareness-related programs in the community. The community organizations seek out for charitable organizations to fund their advertisements and education programs (Beckwith, 2012). The advertisements and education serve as a means of raising awareness and encouraging early detection and treatment. Nurses play a key role in facilitating the education sponsored by the organizations.
Nurses hold a key position in the health sector; they can use this opportunity to encourage women to be more aware of breast cancer. They have the potential to make an impact on women’s health by encouraging women to make use of the programs available for breast screening and prevention (Maren, 2008). They also have the potential of helping society in finding a means of funding breast cancer programs.
In conclusion, it must be highlighted that there has been a lot of progress made in the field of breast cancer treatment. However, early detection still remains important in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. The community has thus undertaken activities aimed at funding the awareness, treatment and research in order to reduce the number of deaths caused by breast cancer. These activities include breast cancer awareness campaigns aimed at raising funds and educating the public on breast cancer, marketing activities, sponsorships and fundraisings. The nurses play a key role in ensuring the success of these activities.
References
Beckwith, D. (2012). Gulf Oil Giving Foundation Supports Breast Cancer Research and Awareness Through National Collaboration. Web.
Komatsu, H., Hayashi, N., & Suzuki, K. (2012). Guided Self-Help for Prevention of Depression and Anxiety in Women with Breast Cancer. ISRN Nursing , 12 (12),.112-120.
Maren, K. (2008). The biopolitics of breast cancer: changing cultures of disease and activism. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.