About Breast Cancer Treatment and Cures
Breast cancer can be frightening for those diagnosed, as well as for loved ones and women who are at risk for the disease. Annual exams to catch breast cancer early are still the best way to fight this disease, but medical innovations have come a long way in developing breast cancer treatments. Often, women can make individual choices in how their breast cancer will be treated.
The appropriate breast cancer treatment for each individual depends on a variety of factors. The size of the tumor, progression of the disease, overall health of the patient, and family history of cancer all play a role in deciding the best treatment. Often, two or more treatment options may be provided to the patient, and she can choose the option she feels is right for her.
Treating Breast Cancer through Surgery
Almost any treatment of breast cancer begins with surgery. Surgery removes the tumor and as many cancerous cells as possible. During surgery, doctors also ascertain whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Varying degrees of surgery are performed depending on the progression of cancer, the physician’s assessment and the patient’s wishes.
A lumpectomy is performed to remove the tumor and some healthy tissue surrounding it. If the tumor is small enough, a lumpectomy does not usually leave obvious signs. For more progressed or larger tumors, a partial or full mastectomy may be required. A partial mastectomy removes a large portion of the breast, and can alter breast shape. A full mastectomy removes the entire breast. There are cosmetic surgeries and implants that can be provided to reshape breasts after cancer treatments have been completed. Additional surgeries to remove cancerous lymph nodes may be required in some cases.
Post Operative Cancer Treatments
Although doctors attempt to remove all cancerous cells during surgery, they can never be 100 percent sure the cancer is gone. Most patients undergo radiation or chemotherapy treatments after surgery in order to kill lingering cancer cells. Radiation treatments are often used to kill cells after a lumpectomy. This treatment involves a lengthy concentration of radiation being delivered via equipment much like an x-ray machine. The treatments are painless and take only a few minutes. They are usually prescribed five times per week for up to six weeks following a surgery.
Newer radiation treatments for breast cancer are being developed which decrease the treatment length or allow radiation to be administered from within. Brachytherapy is the act of inserting radiation pellets at the tumor site. Doctors are not yet confident enough in this therapy to use it in place of external radiation in most cases.
Chemotherapy is an option to radiation treatments and is administered before or after surgery. Chemotherapy administered prior to surgery is used to shrink tumors before removing them. After surgery, chemotherapy is used to reduce the risk of cancer returning to the breast. Chemotherapy treatments are usually provided in the form of intravenous or oral drugs, and are administered a week or more apart. Side effects from this treatment are more severe than radiation, and can include hair loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, infection and nausea.
A Breast Cancer Treatment that is Right for You
There are other treatments for breast cancer available, but many have just begun to be tested. Every woman who finds herself in this situation should discuss all options with her physician. An open, honest discussion about options can increase the likelihood of being cured of breast cancer.