Things to do when you have breast cancer ?
Treatment of breast cancer depends on the size and
stage of the tumor, whether it has spread or not, and health status
General patient. In many cases, medical equipment
from different specialties work with the patient to
decide which is the best plan to follow.
Henceforth the doctor and you are responsible
your health: they are a team. The specialist has the knowledge
to diagnose and treat your illness, but you only
possible that treatment will continue as expected. This
disease is not cured in a short time, so you need to do
your doctor often. There needs to be good communication
and understanding between you.
The first treatment, with an early stage cancer, is responsible for removing the tumor. Some doctors will recommend surgery to remove the tumor, with or without radiation therapy.
The next step is to reduce the risk of the disease returning, and for that kill cancer cells that may remain. Your doctor will recommend further treatment such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
If the cancer recurs, the patient can choose another surgery and various treatments to combat metastases elsewhere in the body.
Factors determining the right treatment
The status and histological grade of tumor
The hormonal status of the tumor
The age and general health of the patient
Menopausal status of the patient
The presence of known mutations in genes breast cancer
Factors that may indicate that a tumor is aggressive
? What treatments are available for breast cancer ?
Surgery:
Radiation:
Chemotherapy:
Hormone therapy:
Surgery is the first choice of treatment for
many cancers. If localized and restricted
to a zone, this method is recommended for
removing it together with the surrounding tissue which could
contain cancer cells.
The success of surgery depends on whether the tumor has spread or
not to other areas. This method still provides the best
chances of cure for various forms of
cancer.
Radiation therapy is used to treat cancer
localized by this method are destroyed or damaged
cancer cells so they can not reproduce.
It is administered with high energy external beam or
through internal implants.
External radiation therapy is painless and is very similar
making a X-ray radiography The patient
not need to be hospitalized and given treatment
about 5 days a week for 5 to 8 weeks,
depending on the size, location and type of cancer.
Under certain circumstances be administered through
implants, which are small containers that
placed in or near the tumor while the patient is
under general or local anesthesia. This method
may receive a higher total dose of radiation in a
smaller area.
Some implants can be placed by the physician in
outpatient clinic, while
others may require the person to remain in the
hospital for a few days.
Implants do not usually cause severe pain,
but may cause some discomfort if required
an applicator to secure them in place. Once removed,
Radioactivity body disappears.
There can be side effects of this procedure,
which vary from one patient to another and depend on the
the body being treated and the amount of radiation used.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy to treat cancer
intense acting drugs, that are generally
injected into a vein or given by mouth. These
travel around the body in the bloodstream. A
Often combinations of drugs are used, since it has been
are well proven effective.
This method of cure is given in cycles, each
of them followed by a recovery period.
Chemotherapy often lasts about 6
months, varying between 3 and 9. After the cancer
is removed by surgery, chemotherapy can
significantly reduce the risk of recurrence.
Used to treat cancer cells that have
spread to other parts of the body, ie the phenomenon
metastasis. Depending on the type and stage of development,
This method can be used to stop the disease,
keep it from spreading, slow growth,
kill cancer cells that have spread
other parts of the body to relieve symptoms or
condition caused by the disease itself.
The side effects of chemotherapy depend
the type of drug, the amount taken and the
treatment duration. The most common are nausea
and vomiting, hair loss, increased
likelihood of infection and fatigue.
Some may be more difficult to tolerate, while
others may be mild. Most of these effects
can be controlled with medication, support methods
or changing the treatment schedule. Others, on the
so may require immediate medical attention,
so you should tell your doctor about any
abnormality of your body as soon as possible.
Some side effects may also change
skin in the treated area and some loss of appetite.
Fortunately, many of the side effects go away
with time. Be sure to consult your doctor to see
if there is a remedy to alleviate these problems.
There are several medications used for
including chemotherapy and capecitabine is
TF-activated, oral chemotherapy whose safety and efficacy
been proven for locally advanced breast cancer
or metastatic as cells directly attack
cancer without affecting healthy ones. This option offers a
significant improvement in survival when combined with
conventional chemotherapy.
Among its most important benefits is
found that patients have less pain.
Hormonal therapy: Involves the use of
medications or surgical removal of the ovaries
to prevent hormones stimulate growth
cancer cells that may remain in
the body after surgery.
Consists of consuming oral medicines that fight
growth or spread of some cancers,
blocking the action of estrogen (hormone
female).
Rehabilitation and alternative and complementary therapies and directed
Rehabilitation of shoulder-arm:
Postoperative Exercises:
Complementary and Alternative Therapy:
Targeted therapies:
Biological therapy or immunotherapy:
Anti-angiogenesis :
Rehabilitation of shoulder-arm: This routine
exercise performed during treatment depend
of their physical condition and the doctor may suggest
considering the type and stage of disease, and
as you are undergoing treatment.
Perform the exercise with rest periods
appropriate during the day. The rehabilitation of his shoulder
arm and increase your energy level, will help
relieve stress, lower your anxiety and depression, and
stimulate the appetite.
Make sure it is your doctor who will help you
determine which activities are most appropriate
for you and the most convenient time. After
treatment, the chances are you face limitations
in the movement of the shoulder, arm edema,
pain, scars adherent and posture problems,
a shoulder higher than another.
It is important to take care of these possible consequences. By
Therefore, it is best to start as early as possible
fitness program. It is
exercises and postures that will help in the period
immediate postoperative period.
Postoperative exercises: in the opinion
your doctor, chances are that recommend a
moderate plan activities such as walking, yoga,
swimming or stretching. Ultimately, this will help you feel
better about the health of your body and mind.
We also recommend gentle active exercise,
neck, elbow, wrist and fingers. All this to preserve
joint mobility, prevent the “tightness” and loosen or
relax the muscles of the neck and arm. When
feel tense, do deep breathing, practice
relaxation, good posture lying,
sitting, standing or walking. While you have your arms
drainage position, do isometric contractions
soft (open and close the fingers tensing
muscles of the arm and forearm). This can be used
soft rubber ball.
Consider soft wrist exercises (bending,
stretch and rotate), forearm (rotation), elbow (bend
and stretch), neck exercises (bending and straightening) and circles
left and right three times each.
Alternative and complementary therapies: Both s and refer
not scientifically proven treatments. Examples are
hydrogen peroxide therapy, hydrazine sulfate and essiac tea.
Also included relaxation exercises, acupuncture and
physical training. While these methods do not cure complementary
disease, help control symptoms and improve well-being
the patient.
If you choose to follow one of these treatments, always consult your
doctor, as some herbal extracts such as echinacea,
ginkgo biloba and valerian root can be very powerful and
even dangerous, especially when combined with other
medications you may be taking. It is very important
the doctor knows everything you are taking and doing
for treating cancer.
There are methods which are very beneficial as aromatherapy,
art therapy, massage, meditation, music therapy,
Tai Chi and yoga.
Targeted therapies: this type of therapy specifically targets one
single cell type, and causes few side effects.
One example of this type of therapy is trastuzumab ,
approved to treat HER2-positive breast cancer, and metastatic
and as a companion treatment in early breast cancer.
Chemotherapy is not, but a monoclonal antibody
Therapy (also called target) attacking a very
specific. It has proven to work alone or in combination
common chemotherapy. Also extends the life and maintains the
quality of life in women with HER2-positive breast cancer.
It was demonstrated that produces improvements in fatigue, physical activity
and overall quality of life of patients, without the effects
toxic chemotherapy.
Biological therapy or immunotherapy: Treatments that f ortalecen
the same body so it can repair damage and fight
infections and cancer.
Anti-angiogenesis : therapy is another option, with bevacizumab.
E s different treatment that prevents the growth of vessels
blood that bring nutrition and oxygen to tumors. This medicine
is one of the first to prevent the body’s natural mechanism
create new blood vessels. It has been shown that patients
are treated with this drug live longer, without relapse
for over a year when combined with traditional chemotherapy
in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.
It also reduces the size of the tumor and does operable, improves
operation of chemotherapy and to increase the possibility of
the tumor becomes inactive. All this without increasing effects
Adverse typical of traditional chemotherapy.
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