Treatment for breast cancer
Talk to your doctor about birth control before starting treatment If you are of child-bearing age, it is important to practise birth control during treatment, even if your periods stop. You may remain fertile during treatment and be able to become pregnant. Some cancer treatments are harmful to an unborn child. |
Surgery
A decision about what type of surgery to have depends on the size of tumour and where it is. During the operation, all or part of the tumour and some healthy tissue around the tumour are removed. Surgery is done under general anesthetic (you will be unconscious) and you may stay in the hospital for several days after the surgery.There are 2 different types of breast surgery:
During surgery, the doctor will usually remove some lymph nodes from the armpit to see if the cancer has spread. This is called an axillary dissection. You may be offered a newer procedure called sentinel lymph node biopsy, which may mean fewer lymph nodes are removed.
After surgery you may have some pain or nausea, or may not feel like eating. These side effects are temporary, and can be controlled. Any change in how your breast looks after surgery depends on the amount of breast tissue that is removed and the location of the tumour. You may have the option to have breast reconstruction done at the same time as the surgery, or later.
If lymph nodes are removed from under your arm, lymph fluid may build up in your arm and hand and cause swelling. This is called lymphedema. Lymphedema can happen soon after surgery, or months or even years later.
After surgery – Practical care and side effects
Radiation therapy
In external beam radiation therapy, a large machine is used to carefully aim a beam of radiation at the tumour. The radiation damages the cells in the path of the beam – normal cells as well as cancer cells. In brachytherapy, or internal radiation therapy, radioactive material is placed directly into or near the tumour.
External beam radiation therapy is almost always given after breast-conserving surgery to destroy any cancer cells that may remain in the breast area. In some cases, the lymph node area will be treated as well. Radiation is sometimes used after a mastectomy.
Radiation side effects are usually mild. Side effects will be different depending on what part of the body receives the radiation. You may feel more tired than usual or notice changes to the skin (it may be red or tender) where the treatment was given. The nipple and the fold under the breast may be sensitive or sore. These side effects are a result of damage to normal cells. The side effects will usually go away when the treatment period is over and the normal cells repair themselves. Radiation to the armpit may increase the risk of lymphedema.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be given as pills or by injection. Chemotherapy drugs interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread, but they also damage healthy cells. Although healthy cells can recover over time, you may experience side effects from your treatment like nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, hair loss and an increased risk of infection.
Some chemotherapy drugs can affect your ability to become pregnant. If you plan to have children after treatment, talk to your doctor about your options.
Hormone therapy
Hormones are chemical substances that are produced by glands in the body or made in a laboratory. Hormonal therapy is a treatment that removes hormones from your body or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. Drugs, surgery or radiation therapy can be used to change hormone levels.
If you have a tumour that is hormone receptor positive, your doctor may offer you hormonal therapy.
Hormonal drugs can be given as pills or injections, or both. Different drugs cause different side effects. You may notice menopause-like symptoms, such as irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal discharge or irritation. These effects can usually be reduced or controlled. They often go away when therapy is finished, but sometimes menopause is permanent.
For pre-menopausal women, surgically removing the ovaries is another form of hormonal treatment for breast cancer. If you have your ovaries removed, you will go into menopause right away. The side effects of having your ovaries removed are likely to be more severe than if you had gone into menopause naturally.
Biological therapy
Biological therapy for breast cancer uses drugs to interfere with how breast cancer cells grow and uses the body’s immune system to destroy cancer cells.
Biological therapy may be used for women whose breast cancer has too much of the Her2 protein. The medication is given by injection and may be given with chemotherapy. Side effects may include flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, nausea), headache, rash or heart problems.
Learn more about ways to manage and control your pain and discomfort, side effects and stress when you are having cancer treatments.
Whether you are newly diagnosed, in active treatment, or are caring for someone with cancer, you will probably need to deal with many day-to-day issues, make tough decisions, and cope with a range of emotions.
Last modified on:
14 September 2011
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