Ethics in the Management of Information for Patients with Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Introduction: Making medical decisions for oncology patients, especially those in critical conditions, inherently involves both clinical and ethical challenges. Clearly, no medical act in any specialty is devoid of an ethical component; however, "the ethical dilemmas that arise in the care of any patient become more pronounced with a cancer diagnosis." The diagnosis and treatment of locally advanced breast cancer imply, for these women, the loss of the symbolic role of their breasts, changes in their relationship with their partner, sexual life, and the reaction of their partner/family to anger. In this case, cancer is perceived by women as a risk and a threat to life, and the removal of the breast primarily affects the identity of the female body. The ethical management of this disease poses a challenge for healthcare professionals. Objective: To describe the ethical aspects related to handling information about locally advanced breast cancer and to present strategies that may improve the training of healthcare professionals in this regard. Method: A literature review was conducted using databases such as Scielo, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Redalyc, and Google Scholar. The references included updated articles published in the last five years, selecting the most relevant aspects of the topic. Conclusions: Proper communication of information to patients with breast cancer and the expertise of healthcare professionals in conveying it positively influence treatment adherence.