title: New diagnostic techniques and treatments for early breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review diagnostic techniques and treatments for early breast cancer, including radiologic techniques, biomarkers, surgical techniques, radiation therapy, adjuvant chemotherapy regimens, and hormonal therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scientific and review articles, book chapters, and clinical practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast cancer is a major health problem. The advances in diagnosis and treatment of early breast cancer and the amount of information available make it difficult for patients to make diagnostic and treatment decisions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oncology nurses need to be knowledgeable in the many advances in diagnostic and treatment techniques for early breast cancer to assist patients with difficult decisions.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Providence Health System, Burbank, CA, USA.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Mautner
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Brennan
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008327:Mammography; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000639:trends*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers