Breast Cancer
What are the treatments for the disease?
Treatment depends on factors found when the tumor was diagnosed and how advanced the cancer is at that time. Early stage cancers can be cured. Advanced stage cancers can often be controlled for long periods. Except for very small ductal carcinomas in situ, or DCIS, most cancers will be treated with additional surgery after diagnosis.
Treatment of breast cancer depends on the type of cancer and how far it has spread. Treatment guidelines include the following:
Very early stage, low grade tumors. These cancers are very small and in one location. In this case, removing just the affected part of the breast with a lumpectomy may be all that is required. Radiation therapy to the affected area may also be recommended.
Early stage, no involved nodes. If the cancer is not responsive to hormones, the woman may be offered chemotherapy. If it is responsive to hormones, medications like tamoxifen or letrozole can be used to suppress hormone activity. Both treatments are to ensure that any possible cancer left behind is killed or suppressed. Radiation therapy to the affected area may also be recommended.
Early stage, positive nodes. Chemotherapy will be offered to kill any remaining undetectable cancer. Women whose cancer is responsive to hormones will also receive tamoxifen or similar antihormone medications. The kind of chemotherapy and intensity of the regimen will be determined by other factors in the tumor. Radiation therapy to the affected area may also be recommended.
Advanced stage. When the cancer has spread to nearby structures or to other areas of the body, the goal will be to control the cancer. Chemotherapy will be offered. Antihormone medications can be given to women whose tumors are likely to respond. Other medicine to treat problems caused by the advancing cancer will be used to relieve symptoms. Radiation therapy to the affected area may also be recommended.
Biological response modifiers are a fairly new treatment used for certain types of breast tumors. These products target breast cancer cells that have too much of a protein known as HER2. Trastuzumab is an example of one of these products. It slows or stops the growth of breast cancer cells with too much HER2. It can be used alone or with chemotherapy.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
Surgery may cause bleeding, infection, and allergic reaction to anesthesia. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may cause hair loss, fatigue, and nausea. These treatments also increase an individual's risk of infection temporarily. Antihormone therapy may cause menopausal symptoms, even in women who have already been through menopause. Biological response modifiers can cause rash, swelling, or flu-like symptoms.
For people with early stage disease, the side effects of therapy will eventually subside. Those with advanced disease may require changes in therapy to keep the cancer in control.
What happens after treatment for the disease?
After surgery, the breast can be reconstructed. Reconstruction will restore the normal shape to the breast following lumpectomy or mastectomy. The nerves to the breast area may be cut and the area may remain numb. At first, movement may be restricted. Physical therapy and exercise will restore complete function.
The emotional health of the individual is an important component in breast cancer survival. New research has shown that women who repress, or control, their emotions have an imbalance in stress hormone levels. These imbalances can predict early death in women whose breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Another study showed a longer survival rate in women who had good emotional support and were able to express their emotions.
A recent study of 400 breast cancer survivors showed that the women listed the following factors as key to breast cancer survival:
complementary therapies, or alternative medicine
exercise
healthy diet
healthy lifestyle
positive attitude
prayer
stress reduction
tamoxifen
How is the disease monitored?
After completing therapy, a person with early stage disease will have regular visits with the healthcare provider. The provider will monitor the cancer with physical exams, mammograms, and other tests. The provider will look for signs that the cancer has returned. Over time, the frequency will decrease.
For those whose cancer is advanced, more frequent monitoring of the progress of the disease and the effect of treatment is necessary. Tests, such as bone scans or CAT scans, will be used to follow the disease. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.
|
Previous section
