Issues in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To provide a discussion of the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, nursing interventions, and quality of life issues for women with advanced breast cancer.


METHODS
Journal articles and internet web sites.


CONCLUSIONS
Advances in the discovery of new chemotherapeutic regimens, monoclonal antibodies, and bisphosphonates have offered more options for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Treatment is aimed at improving survival while maintaining quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses can use this information to educate patients about their cancer treatment. It provides nurses with strategies for management of treatment side effects and will enhance their understanding of quality of life issues for women with metastatic breast cancer.
Barse
P M
PM
Cooper Cancer Institute, Cooper Health System, Voorhees, NJ, USA.
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents