Seeking Divine Intervention to Manage the Advanced Stages of Breast Cancer in Southwestern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization records indicate that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women both in developed and developing regions of the world. In developed countries, breast cancer is the second cause of cancer-related deaths, whereas in developing countries, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. The empirical literature on Nigeria indicates that women present with advanced stages of the illness. OBJECTIVES: To explore the health-seeking behaviors of Southwestern Nigerian women with advanced breast cancer from the time they noticed a breast abnormality to their eventual presentation at the hospital for the management of the illness. METHODS: Thirty women with advanced stages of breast cancer in a large tertiary, referral, teaching, and university-affiliated Southwestern Nigeria Hospital were purposively selected for study participation. Participants completed a demographic information form and an in-depth face-to-face, one-on-one, semistructured interview guided by open-ended questions. Data analysis was inductive. RESULTS: Findings revealed that women sought divine interventions for the management of breast cancer. Prayer and spirituality were associated with high levels of optimism among the study participants. CONCLUSION: Nurses should provide information and counseling to women and the general public on the etiology and appropriate management of breast abnormalities and include the importance of a spiritual dimension of care. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Findings indicate the need to introduce a spiritual dimension to the care of women with advanced breast cancer. Findings also indicate the need for a comprehensive population-based breast health education.

Promoting Early Detection of Breast Cancer and Care Strategies for Nigeria.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women particularly in developing countries like Nigeria, with high mortality, and economic costs. Worldwide, it is predicted that more than one million women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and more than 400,000 will die from the disease every year. A comparative integrative review of the literature from Nigeria and Canada showed that in Canada, there is positive association between wide spread education, early detection, the disease stage at diagnosis, and survival rates. In Nigeria, presentation with the advanced stage of the disease makes survival very low. The primary factors responsible for the late presentations are lack of awareness, misconceptions about breast cancer causes, and treatment outcomes. It is recommended that guidelines and policies about breast cancer early detection, care strategies, and ongoing management pathways be produced, disseminated, and adopted. The guidelines will assist practitioners and patients in making informed decisions and choices about the most appropriate health care for their specific clinical situations. The implementation of evidence-based guidelines will most likely help to improve care processes, the quality of clinical decisions and patient treatment outcome.