Breast Cancer Prognostic Tests: Helping Patients Understand Testing Results and Their Implications

Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2019 Oct 1;23(5):478-481. doi: 10.1188/19.CJON.478-481.

Abstract

Breast cancer prognostic tests have become an essential component of breast cancer care. Oncology nurses play an important role in assisting patients in their understanding of and decision making regarding the use of prognostic tests in treatment planning. This article outlines the most commonly used breast cancer prognostic tests, including the individual assay's purpose, its genomic makeup, the targeted patient population, and its prognostic and predictive abilities. Key nursing implications are discussed, highlighting how nurses can best apply knowledge of breast cancer prognostic tests to nursing practice.

Keywords: breast cancer prognostic tests; breast cancer tumor tests; genomic assays.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / nursing
  • Breast Neoplasms / psychology
  • Comprehension*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nurse-Patient Relations*
  • Patient Education as Topic / methods*
  • Prognosis