Breast cancer: so much more than just a perioperative experience

This paper's focus is the various types of breast cancer, the predisposing factors for the disease, treatment options, treatment modalities, conventional and unconventional therapies, surgical reconstruction, genetics and hormone replacement. The treatment of breast cancer is regarded as a team effort requiring the dedication and expertise of all of the members of the care team to ensure a favorable patient outcome. Within this team the author recommends an expanded new role for the perioperative nurse, that of the nurse navigator.