Treatment
There are currently a wide variety of treatments for breast cancer and depending on your unique situation, you and your doctor will decide the best form of treatment.
Surgery
Surgery is usually the first line of attack when discovering breast cancer. Different types of surgery are lumpectomy, mastectomy, and lymph node removal.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation can reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence by about 70%. It is effective in destroying cancer cells that may stick around after surgery.
Targeted Therapies
Targeted therapies target specific characteristics of cancer cells, such as protein. There are currently three types of targeted therapies, Tykerb, Avastin, and Herceptin.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medicine to weaken and destroy the cancer cells in the body.
Hormonal Therapy
Hormonal therapy treats breast cancer that is hormone-receptor-positive. It reduces the amount of estrogen and blocks its action so that it reduces the risk of recurring after surgery.
Complementary Medicine
Complementary medicine is therapeutic techniques that helps physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. Some examples are acupuncture, yoga, and herbal medicine.
Treatment Side Effects
- high cholesterol
- high blood pressure
- hair changes
- rash
- taste and smell changes
- sweating
- swelling
- vomiting
- body weakness
- depression
- back pain
- breathing problems
- dehydration
- hot flashes
- fertility issues
- infection
- insomnia
- kidney problems
- mood swings
- numbness
- pain
- skin discoloration
- chest pain
- cold and flu symptoms
- blood clots
- bleeding and bruising problems
- fatigue
- memory loss