Dear Colleagues,

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors in women globally. While an increasing incidence of breast cancer prevails, the disease has a favorable survival rate at five and even ten years. Accordingly, breast cancer survivors face various side effects of treatment, including physical, psychological, social challenges. Issues pertaining to women involve body image disorder; decreased sexual satisfaction; anxiety; depression; social avoidance and distress; breast cancer-related lymphedema; and physical symptoms of chemotherapy, such as alopecia, skin pigmentation, nausea, vomiting, unhealthy lifestyle, among others. Many of these problems can be addressed by nursing staff.

Nurses play a vital role in the treatment of breast cancer. First, most cancers have natural and social attributes, and breast cancer has no exception. Psychological nursing is beneficial to patients’ health. It helps build their mental resilience and outlook and can even help prevent recurrence of cancer. Numerous studies have shown that peer support is effective in promoting health-related quality of life. Second, nurses are different from breast surgeons, psychologists and rehabilitation doctors. With their close and frequent contact, they typically know patients’ thoughts and needs, and can serve as the bridge of communication. Third, nurses continue to make improvements in their profession, including via global interaction with nurses from other countries, conducting research and publishing study results. Considering these multifaceted and important roles, this Special Issue on Breast Cancer and Treatment provides a platform for nurses to share their research results and make their voices heard. A variety of topics of breast cancer nursing are welcomed, including (but not limited to) physical and psychological nursing, social functional nursing, and the promotion of healthy lifestyle.

Prof. Zhenqi Lu

Guest Editor