Common Treatments For Breast Cancer
Posted on: 31 October 2022
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, and receiving a diagnosis can be very scary. However, there have been a lot of advancements in breast cancer treatment in recent years. The type of treatment you receive may depend on several factors such as your age, the type of tumor, and your general health.
Here are the most common treatments for breast cancer.
Surgery
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctor may likely recommend surgery. The type of surgery you undergo will depend on the severity of your breast cancer. For example, if you have a small tumor, you may be able to undergo a lumpectomy. During the procedure, a surgeon will take out the tumor and a little bit of surrounding healthy tissue.
On the other hand, if the tumor has gotten too large, you may have to remove one or both of your breasts.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to destroy cancer cells in the body. If you have large breast tumors, you may undergo chemotherapy before surgery. The treatment will help shrink the tumors so they are easier for your surgeon to remove.
Chemotherapy may also be necessary if the cancer has spread to other areas of your body. Although chemotherapy is an effective treatment for breast cancer, it can come with certain side effects, like fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.
Radiation
Radiation is a breast cancer treatment that uses ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells. Your doctor may recommend radiation after a mastectomy if the tumor was larger or found in your lymph nodes. The treatment may last several weeks and cause several side effects, such as fatigue, swelling, appetite changes, hair loss, and rash.
Hormonal Therapy
Hormone therapy is designed for breast cancer patients who are sensitive to hormones. The treatment may be used before or after other treatments to reduce the likelihood of your breast cancer coming back. Hormone therapy can prevent hormones from attaching to cancer cells and keep your body from producing estrogen after you go through menopause.
Like other cancer treatments, hormone therapy may cause certain side effects, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
If you have additional questions about breast cancer treatment, you should get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible. Finding out that you have breast cancer is unsettling, and it is important to know all of your options.
For more information, contact a local company, like Alaska Oncology and Hematology LLC.
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