Clinical pathway for women with locally advanced breast cancer and neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Breast cancer is a very important public health issue, due its high incidence and mortality. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has proven to be a valid option in the treatment of operable breast cancer and a better aesthetic result if breast- tumour ratio is unfavourable. The administration of the therapy itself is complicated, but the difficulty lies mainly in the management of side effects or adverse effects of the treatment. The emergence of a new therapeutic applications need to be constantly reviewed, which combined with the high work loads in the oncology day hospital requires easily managed, standardised and updated methodologies. A method of choice would be the use of clinical pathways that are just emerging in Spain, but could be helpful in managing this disease. The aim of this publication is to share the design of a clinical path for this specific disease with the scientific community. The process of preparing this document has been work of reflection, literature review and unification of criteria that may be used to facilitate work within the Oncology Day Hospital, improving the records of the work involved, especially those related to nursing practice. Their evaluation would enable proposals to be defined for improving and facilitating evidence-based practice.