ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To describe current systemic chemotherapy and biotherapy breast cancer treatments to better inform clinical nursing practice. DATA SOURCES: CINAHLl, Medline, Academic Research Periodicals, PubMed Clinical Queries, CANCERLIT, and EBM Reviews-Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR). CONCLUSION: Systemic therapeutic options for patients with breast cancer can be complex and varied. Furthermore, the guidelines for the treatment of breast cancer are frequently changing as new chemotherapies and biotherapies are being developed. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nursing clinical practice has to remain current to accommodate new treatments and the side effect profiles. This knowledge is essential to providing evidence-based care for breast cancer patients receiving these treatments.
