breast cancer

Chemotherapy is generally prescribed as a treatment for patients with early stage breast cancer. It is also the treatment of choice for patients with high-risk metastatic breast cancer. The drugs used in the treatment kill rapidly dividing tumor cells that may be spreading through the body. This helps reduce the risk of the cancer coming back in another part of the body.

Chemotherapy can also be used as the main treatment for cancer that has spread outside the breast and underarm area. It can also be used to shrink a large tumor prior to surgery. The treatment can be administered in-patient, outpatient, at home or a combination of these. Chemotherapy for breast cancer and tamoxifen have been shown to independently reduce the risk of developing a second cancer in the other breast. The risk reduction may persist for at least five to ten years.

Chemotherapy also works best in younger women. This treatment is usually administered between two to six weeks following surgery and continues for total of three to six months. The same treatment is usually given after surgery because it can reduce the chance of the cancer returning. This is known as adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and may boost cure rates by as much as fifteen percent.

One may therefore conclude that chemotherapy is the initial choice for the treatment of breast cancer. However, there are several factors to be considered before deciding to undergo the treatment.

Before the doctor decides to recommend chemotherapy to his or her breast cancer patient, the doctor would generally take into consideration the age of the patient, as well as her life stage. While chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery may slow the progression of recurrent breast cancer, chemotherapy and radiation can permanently damage ovaries.

Early menopause may set in when the ovaries stop producing estrogen. If a patient is relatively young and plans to start a family eventually, she could first have her eggs harvested for future use before undergoing chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy should not be given during the first three months of pregnancy as it may cause fetal malformations. The treatment has been more widely used in the second and third trimesters, as organogenesis is complete. However, it may still cause early labor and low birth weight.

Other research has shown that chemotherapy may affect a developing fetus in the second or third trimester. If the breast cancer must be treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy and if your oncologist deems the treatment may harm the fetus, you may face the painful decision of having to end your pregnancy. This decision will likely depend on the stage of cancer, the age of the fetus and the mother's chance of survival. Be sure to discuss with your oncologist to make sure you fully understand the risks before commencing your treatment.

While the chemotherapy kills the cancer cells, it will leave the patient weak. Your medical oncologist and nurse will discuss possible side effects with you before treatment begins.

To cope with the side effects, be sure to get adequate rest between treatments. Eat non greasy, nutritious food and drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices to ensure that your body is well nourished. Take multivitamins if necessary. Vitamins and minerals to take with chemotherapy for breast cancer would include Vitamin C and D, as well as calcium, magnesium and zinc, among others.

Taking multivitamins with minerals after diagnosis was found to be associated with a 20% lower risk of recurrence and 29% lower risk of breast cancer-specific death compared to never using multivitamins.You may also eat organic yogurt as a way of helping your digestive tract to recover and repopulate your gut with friendly bacteria to boost your immune system.

Click on types of breast cancer treatments for the latest information on the types of breast cancer treatments available. Celine Yong has done extensive research on women's health and beauty. Visit her blog at http://healthtipsforwomen.net/ for more valuable tips on breast cancer treatment.

View the original article here

There are a number of treatment options once diagnosed with breast cancer that you can choose from. Late detection of the cancer minimizes the chances of having it cured. Because men have smaller breasts, the cancer is likely to spread at a faster rate during the initial stages compared to women. However, if for both men and women the stage of the cancer during diagnosis is the same, the chances of survival are equal for both.

Treatment will depend on factors such as the stage, its sensitivity to hormones and the type of cancer. Some treatment options include;

Surgery. There are different types of surgery. They include; breast reconstruction, mastectomy to remove the breast or part of it, prophylactic surgery, lymph node dissection, or breast conserving surgery to remove the lump. Men with breast cancer can undergo a surgery referred to as a modified radical mastectomy to remove the breast, chest muscle lining and some of the lymph nodes under the arm.

Chemotherapy. This is the use of medication of a combination of medicines to exterminate and weaken cancer cells throughout the body so that they do not continue to grow. It helps to keep the cancer from striking again. The doctor might use this therapy to minimize the cancer before surgery is performed and during the final stages of the cancer to kill as many cancer cells as possible.

Hormonal therapy. Not only does it reduce the chances of the cancer reoccurring but also the growing and spreading of cancer cells. Like chemotherapy it also stops the cancer cells from growing. Hormone therapy is one of the standard treatments for breast cancer in men especially if the cancer was caused by hormones.

Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy will depend on the type and the stage of the cancer. It can be internal where radioactive substances are positioned near the cancer to kill or prevent the cancer cells from growing or external radiation where the body is exposed to radiation outside the body to achieve the same results. This therapy can be performed after surgery to kill the remaining cancer cells.

Mastectomy, removal of the lymph node, radiation and lumpectomy are used in the treatment of stage I and II breast cancer. After surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biologic therapy are used. Stage IV cancer is not easily curable therefore treatment will be directed towards the symptoms and lengthening ones life.

Emma Wanjiku is an experienced writer and publisher who focusses/reports on issues affecting you. Her research is based on aspects and topics of life that matter. She is a trained journalist. For daily health tips and fitness information, access her health site at http://www.emmalifetips.com/

View the original article here

Lymphedema is an ailment that is commonly experienced by those who have undergone any of the various treatments for breast cancer. The characterizing symptom of this condition is a build-up of lymphatic fluid that can be extraordinarily painful. This condition is such that it requires a carefully thought out medical plan in order to prevent it from becoming debilitating. Lymphedema treatment courses will often consist of three basic parts.

Pain Management

The first, and perhaps most important, component of a successful lymphedema treatment program is pain management. Your doctor should offer you several means of preventing pain as well as methods of coping with it. Prescription pain medication is the most common starting point for this, but there are also a variety of non-medicinal methods by which you can help your body to deal more effectively with the pain associated with your condition. Ask your doctor to describe any non-medicinal methods of pain management during the course of your treatment.

Therapy

Therapy is also an extremely helpful method for receiving lymphedema treatment. A trained therapist will be able to help you manage the symptoms and teach you how to live with your condition. Often times, a therapist will provide therapy in draining the lymphatic fluid that is causing your pain. In other cases, compression and bandaging are effective means of slowing the build-up of fluid and helping to alleviate the discomfort that such build-up is prone to cause. Therapy, then, is a vital part of your treatment plan as it is the primary means for managing lymphedema.

Specialists

Additionally, as doctors and researchers have learned more about this condition, there has been an increase in physicians who specialize specifically in lymphedema treatment. This being the case, you should make sure to speak to your primary doctor about seeing such specialists as they will be able to offer you the most up to date and state of the art treatments that the medical community has to offer. Moreover, a specialist will be able to discuss with you methods of treatment that go beyond management and describe to you precisely what your options might be for more extensive, and effective care.

This is a difficult condition to live with, but there are options for lymphedema treatment that can help you to overcome the difficulties that it causes. Speak with your doctor today about the best course of pain management and therapy available to you, and ask her to refer you to a specialist who can tailor medical care geared specifically to your needs. If you do, you'll be well on your way to overcoming your condition.

Lymphedema treatment requires a carefully thought out plan. To consult with a doctor who can help you make arrangements, go to http://www.breastcenter.com/.

View the original article here