Last updated on December 28th, 2023

In this post, you will find 25 NANDA nursing diagnosis for Breast Cancer. These include actual and risk nursing diagnoses.

Breast cancer nursing assessment, interventions, priorities, and patient teaching are all included.

25 NANDA nursing diagnosis for Breast Cancer

1. Anxiety
2. Acute pain
3. Chronic pain
4. Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements
5. Impaired oral mucous membrane
6. Fatigue
7. Constipation
8. Nausea
9. Decreased activity tolerance
10. Disturbed body image
11. Grieving
12. Death anxiety
13. Compromised family coping
14. Deficient knowledge
15. Risk for infection
16. Risk for bleeding
17. Risk for injury
18. Risk for situational low self-esteem
19. Risk for deficient fluid volume
20. Risk for impaired oral mucous membrane
21. Risk for impaired skin integrity
22. Risk for constipation
23. Risk for sexual dysfunction
24. Risk for interrupted family process
25. Risk for spiritual distress

NANDA nursing diagnosis for Breast Cancer

#1 Anxiety

May be related to	As evidenced by
Fear of treatment therapy and treatment related side effects, threat of death, major life change (economic, health and role function implications), anticipated body changes, separation from support system	Decreased tolerance to pain, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, distress, hypertension, tachycardia, increase in tension, apprehensiveness, feeling of inadequacy, restlessness

#2 Acute pain

May be related to	As evidenced by
Nerve tissue compression, nerve tissue destruction, inflammation process, chemical agents e.g. chemotherapy and radiotherapy, neoplasms	Verbal reports of severe pain, facial mask, changes in vital signs, restlessness, irritability, inability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), lack of appetite, positioning to promote comfort, altered sleep pattern

#3 Chronic pain

May be related to	As evidenced by
Post chemotherapy pain syndrome (chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, stomatitis/mucositis) post radiation pain syndrome (skin burns, mucositis, scarring), infiltration into nerves, metastatic bone pain, post-surgical pain, phantom pain	Facial mask, self-restriction to one position, depression, verbal reports of persistent pain, anorexia, expression of fatigue, reports of pain intensity and characteristic, altered sleep-wake cycle

#4 Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements

May be related to	As evidenced by
Anorexia, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, hyper metabolic state, gastric irritation, depression, inability to ingest food, insufficient intake, altered taste perception, food aversion, sore buccal cavity	Recent weight loss, wasted muscle mass, electrolyte imbalance, hypoglycemia, abdominal cramping, decreased food intake, lack of interest in food, halitosis, sore buccal cavity, constipation, abdominal pain

#5 Impaired oral mucous membrane

May be related to	As evidenced by
Ineffective oral hygiene, chemotherapy related side effects, poor nutritional status, presence of gingival infection, metastatic oral cavity/neck lesions	Dry tongue, cracked lips, lesions in buccal cavity, xerostomia, buccal pain and discomfort, reluctance to feed

#6 Fatigue

May be related to	As evidenced by
Side effects of treatment therapy: chemotherapy, biotherapy or radiation induced, anemia, anxiety and depression, malnutrition	Lack of energy, lethargy, inability to perfume activities of daily living independently, reduced concentration, lack of interest in surrounding, social withdrawal, feelings of hopelessness/helplessness

#7 Constipation

May be related to	As evidenced by
Chemotherapy treatment, use of opioids, changes in diet, insufficient consumption of fluids, lack of activity/immobility, altered regular routine, impaired physical mobility	Less than 3 bowel movements in a week, abdominal distention, blood in stool, hard lumpy stool, straining to pass faces, feeling of insufficient bowel emptying after defecation, sensation of anorectal obstruction

#8 Nausea

May be related to	As evidenced by
Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, anxiety, fear, noxious taste	Refusal to feed, food intolerance, hyper salivation, retching, vomiting, uneasiness in the back of the throat, chest and abdomen, diaphoresis, increased swallowing

#9 Decreased activity tolerance

May be related to	As evidenced by
Poor perfusion secondary to anemia induced by chemotherapy drugs or radiation therapy, comorbidities such as renal failure, surgery related restrictions, pain syndromes, decreased muscle mass, malnutrition, impaired physical mobility	Verbal reports of fatigue, exertional dyspnea, dizziness, headaches, fainting spells, tachycardia with diminished peripheral pulse, generalized weakness, diaphoresis, cyanosis, anxiety when needed to perform ADLs

#10 Disturbed body image

May be related to	As evidenced by
Alopecia, severe weight loss/cachexia, sterility, persistent pain, impotence/sterility, chemotherapy or radiation induced nausea and vomiting, mastectomy, death threat, helplessness, doubts concerning acceptance by significant other, overwhelming fatigue	Preoccupation with body changes/loss of body part(breast), negative feelings about self, feelings of powerlessness and helplessness, lack of follow through with instructions, self-neglect (failure to perform self-care), fear of rejection

#11 Grieving

May be related to	As evidenced by
Anticipated loss of social status, economic stability, home, family or significant other, body function or body part, death threat	Reduced tolerance to pain, self-blame or shifting blame on other people/objects, altered sleep pattern, social withdrawal, anxiety and depression, decreased activity level, hopelessness

#12 Death anxiety

May be related to	As evidenced by
Facing the reality of terminal illness, perceived impending death, uncertainty of continuity of life after physical death, anticipation of family grief on death	Fear of dying and suffering/pain related to dying, anger, shifting blame on other people/events, despair, psychological distress, preoccupation with death,

#13 Compromised family coping

May be related to	As evidenced by
Insufficient support, disorganization, lack of understanding of diagnosis/family role, comprehensive treatment therapy	Hostility to healthcare staff, limited communication between client and caregiver, client concern on caregiver/family response to diagnosis, protective behavior by caregiver without regard to client’s autonomy, family withdrawal of support for client

 

#14 Deficient knowledge

May be related to	As evidenced by
Unfamiliar disease process, complex treatment options (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy among others), unfamiliar environment	Verbal expressions of misconception/ inaccurate information, questing healthcare team, hesitance to make decisions, hostility towards healthcare teams, lack of follow through with instructions

Risk nursing diagnosis for Breast Cancer

#1 Risk for infection

Associated risk factors

• Compromised skin integrity
• Immunosuppression
• Malnutrition
• Invasive procedures and devices

#2 Risk of situational low self-esteem

Associated risk factors

• Debilitating illness
• Functional impairment
• Lack of control
• Altered body image

#3 Risk for deficient fluid volume

Associated risk factors

• Fluid loss via normal routes: diaphoresis, vomiting and diarrhea
• Fluid loss via abnormal routes: wounds, indwelling tunes
• Lack of oral intake
• Malnutrition
• Hyper-metabolic state
• Insufficient muscle mass

#4 Risk for impaired oral mucous membrane

Associated risk factors

• Side effects of treatment therapy: chemotherapy, radiation therapy
• Nil by mouth status for long periods
• Dehydration
• Malnutrition

#5 Risk for impaired skin integrity

Associated risk factors

• Poor nutritional status
• Immobility
• Effects of chemotherapy
• Radiation
• Immunocompromised status

#6 Risk for constipation

Associated risk factors

• Lack of sufficient fiber in meals
• Insufficient fluid intake
• Malabsorption syndrome
• Gastrointestinal inflammation
• Use of opioids
• Radiation therapy

#7 Risk for sexual dysfunction

Associated risk factors

• Alternation in body function
• Changes in physical body structure
• Psychological side effects of terminal disease
• Specific sexual difficulties such as vaginal dryness
• Lack of privacy

#8 Risk for interrupted family process

Associated risk factors

• Poor prognosis
• Shift in family roles
• Financial difficulties
• Changes in health status of a family member
• Situational crises

#9 Risk for spiritual distress

Associated risk factors

• Anticipation of impending death
• Low self-esteem
• Anxiety and depression

#10 Risk for bleeding

Associated risk factors

• Thrombocytopenia associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy

#11 Risk for injury

Associated risk factors

• Improper disposal of chemotherapeutic agents
• Confusion (late-stage cancer)
• General body weakness

Nursing Priorities for Breast Cancer

• Support adaptation and independence
• Promote comfort through adequate pain management
• Patient safety
• Maintain optimal physiological functioning
• Prevention and management of complications
• Monitoring for and prevention of disease advancement
• Maintaining the quality of life
• Provide information about the disease process, condition, prognosis, and treatment needs.

Nursing management for Breast Cancer

Nursing Assessment

• Assess and monitor vital signs
• Assess the patient’s comprehensive history, noting the family history of cancer, age at menarche, first child’s birth, number of children, and menopause.
• Note the characteristics of the breast mass such as primary site, initial date of discovery/diagnosis, and additional sites involved (metastasis)
• Assess for changes in auxiliary or supraclavicular lymph nodes
• Assess the patient’s health maintenance habits such as knowledge and practice of breast self-exam (BSE), history of mammograms, diet habits to including intake of alcohol and fats, and use of hormone supplements.
• Perform a physical exam: note the shape and size of the breast, fixation to bordering tissues, skin changes, presence of discharge (and characteristics if present), and pain
• Explore the patient’s level of education and readiness to learn to establish a teaching plan.

Subjective data	Objective data
Breast size/shape change	Inverted nipple
Localized pain	Hard, irregular lumps and immobile lumps
Nipple inversion	Changes in breast contour
Skin dimpling on the affected breast	Wasting of muscle mass
Lump(s) at the axillary region	Edema and pitting
Nipple discharge (blood-stained)	Ulcerated oral mucosa
Skin change on the affected breast	Peau d’orange
Recent weight loss	Hypertension and tachycardia
Fatigue and weakness	Compromised concentration
Denial of diagnosis	Facial mask of pain and discomfort
Hopelessness and helplessness	Depression/social withdrawal
Poor dietary habits	Severe weight loss/cachexia
Nausea and vomiting	Poor skin turgor
Changes in bowel pattern	Diminished bowel sounds

Nursing Interventions

• Review the client’s and significant other’s (SO) prior cancer treatment experience. Find out what the doctor informed the patient and what conclusion the patient came to. Encourage the customer to express their feelings.
• Create a relaxed atmosphere where clients can express their emotions or choose not to speak at all.
• Keep in close communication with the client. As necessary to build trust, speak with and touch the client.
• Help the client and family identify their anxieties and clarify them so they may start to create coping mechanisms.
• Give reliable, consistent information on the diagnosis and outlook. Avoid arguing about how the client sees the problem.
• Provide non-pharmacologic pain management measures such as massage, repositioning, music, TV, and other diversion measures.
• Inform the patient, and monitor side-effects of chemotherapy and radiation such as alopecia, nausea and vomiting, weight changes, xerostomia, sore throat, bone marrow suppression, anxiety, and depression
• Monitor the client’s daily food consumption and ask them to keep a food diary as directed. 
• Encourage the customer to have a high-calorie, nutrient-rich diet while also getting enough fluids. Offer wholesome nourishment and encourage the consumption of supplements and frequently spaced, smaller meals.
• Support and address the patient psychological needs throughout, from diagnosis to treatment.
• Explain pre-, intra-, and post-op phases of surgical procedures to alleviate anxiety and fear
• Anticipate alopecia and fatigue post-chemo and plan with the patient appropriately.
• Involve the patient in the planning and execution of treatment
• Administer antiemetic prophylaxis for chemo patients as indicated
• Administer intravenous infusion, antianxiety medication, and analgesics as indicated
• Help the patient to find an accountability partner from their family/friends circle/community
• Suggest measures to deal with/address anxiety, depression, and sexual dysfunction such as understanding the treatment process, having support persons

Patient teaching for Breast Cancer

• Minimize uncertainty by correcting/clarifying misinformation
• Explain the treatment options
• Provide information on post-mastectomy care
• Develop realistic expectations of the treatment as per cancer staging
• Set realistic goals with patient
• Establish support networks such as support groups, accountability partners
• Explore information sources
• Encourage exploration of spirituality/faith
• Instruct on how to use patient-controlled analgesics
• Involve family in decision-making and health education sessions
• Encourage regular follow-up, screenings, diet modifications, and exercise (early stages)
• Teach stress reduction techniques

Conclusion

To sum up, you now know 25 NANDA nursing diagnosis for Breast Cancer that you can use in your nursing care plans.

Additionally, you have also learned about nursing assessment, nursing interventions, nursing priorities, and patient teaching for Breast Cancer.

Reference

Ackley, B., Ladwig, G., Makic, M., Martinez-Kratz, M., & Zanotti, M. (2020). Nursing Diagnoses Handbook: An Evidence-based Guide to Planning Care (12th ed.). Elsevier.

Doenges, M. E., Moorhouse, M. F., & Murr, A. C. (2013) Nurses pocket guide: Diagnoses, interventions, and rationales (13^th ed.). F. A. Davis Company

Gulanick, M., & Myers, J. L. (2022). Nursing care plans: Diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Herdman, T., Kamitsuru, S. & Lopes, C. (2021). NURSING DIAGNOSES: Definitions and Classifications 2021-2023 (12th ed.). Thieme.

Swearingen, P. (2016). ALL-IN-ONE Nursing Care Planning Resource (4th ed.). Elsevier/Mosby.