Breast cancer is a severe concern for many women. According to the World Health Organization, in 2020, more than 2.3 million women were diagnosed with
Breast cancer is a severe concern for many women. According to the World Health Organization, in 2020, more than 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Moreover, there were 6,85,000 death reported all over the world. When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, the cancer care team will discuss the best treatment options.
It is important to think carefully about the type of treatment options available for you, which are not only effective but safe as well. If you are also wondering about the best treatment options available for breast cancer, this article is for you.
Contents
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is not only a woman issue. In fact, it can happen to many men out there. The following are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
- Lump in the breast or thickening
- Change in appearance, shape or size of the breast
- Dimpling over the breast
- Newly inverted nipple
- Crusting, flaking, scaling or peeling of the areola or breast skin.
- Pitting or redness over the breast skin.
Types of Breast Cancer Surgeries
Breast cancer surgeries depend on several aspects. For example, the location of the tumor, how fat it has spread, and your feelings. The surgeon ensures you get the right type of surgery that helps you in the treatment. The most common types of breast cancer surgeries are:
- Lumpectomy includes removing small tumors
- Mastectomy, which removes the entire breast
- Sentinel Node Biopsy includes removing some lymph nodes
- Axillary Lymph node dissections include removing various lymph nodes
- Removing both the breasts
Treatment Options for Breast Cancer
Generally, there are five treatment options for breast cancer. These include a combination of radiation hormone therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. The operations used to treat breast cancer are:
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Radiation Therapy
This therapy uses high-powered rays of energy such as protons and X-rays to destroy cancer cells. It uses a large machine that sends external beam radiation to the body. Moreover, it also places radioactive material in the body, known as brachytherapy. Doctors recommend this therapy to the chest wall after mastectomy. The radiation lasts from three days to six weeks, depending on the type of treatment.
Chemotherapy
This therapy uses special drugs to kill the fast-growing cancer cells. Chemotherapy is usually recommended by doctors when it has a chance to spread to another body part. If someone has larger tumors, the doctor recommends chemotherapy before the surgery. It controls cancer and stops it from spreading.
Hormone Therapy
Also known as hormone-blocking therapy, it treats hormone-sensitive breast cancers. This therapy is conducted before or after the surgery to decrease the chances of cancer coming back. If cancer has come back, hormone therapy can control and shrink it.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is one of the most effective therapies that attack cancer cells abnormalities. For example, many targeted therapy drugs focus on overproduced proteins by breast cancer cells known as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This protein is responsible for cancer cells growth. The drug used in this therapy destroys cancer cells while protecting healthy cells.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy uses the immune system in order to fight cancer. The disease-fighting immune system of the body cannot attract cancer. This is because the cancer cell made protein blinds the immune system. Immunotherapy interferes with that procedure.
This therapy can be a great option for those who have triple-negative breast cancer. It means the cancer cells don’t have receptors for HER2, progesterone, or estrogen. In triple-negative breast cancer, immunotherapy works well with chemotherapy to spread to other body parts.
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Palliative Care
If you are seeking specialized medical care focusing on providing relief from breast cancer symptoms and pain, look no further than Palliative care treatment. Palliative care specialists not only work with you, but also with your family to provide support with your ongoing care. You can have this care while undergoing the above-mentioned treatments. This care can be used with all the right treatments to make a patient feel good, live longer, and improve the quality of their life.
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