About Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Treatment & Care
Breast cancer treatment and care today is so customized that a treatment plan will be tailored just for the individual patient. No two cancers are exactly the same, so before the treatment plan is determined, there are many factors that need to be assessed. The type, grade and stage of the cancer, scientific evidence that a treatment works for the specific type of cancer, and any other health issues the patient has will all be carefully considered to develop the best treatment plan.
The patient’s own input in the treatment plan is definitely encouraged. Doctors, nurses, other specialists, and the patient will construct the best treatment plan. Treatment plans often consist of a combination of treatments, including:
Surgery
Surgery is an operation will remove part or the entire tumour. Surrounding tissues are sometimes removed as well. There are two types of surgeries for breast cancer: lumpectomy and mastectomy. Lumpectomy is a surgery that removes only the breast tumour, along with a “shell” of healthy tissue around it to ensure that the whole tumour is taken. Mastectomy is a surgery that removes the whole breast. Usually lymph nodes from the armpit area will also be removed to check for spreading of the cancer.
Radiation Therapy (radiotherapy)
Radiation therapy destroys cancer cells with high energy x-rays, either by carefully aiming the rays at the tumour or by placing radioactive seeds directly into the breast. After a lumpectomy, the breast will be radiated. After a mastectomy, the chest wall may be treated. Sometimes the lymph node area will also be radiated. Damage to surrounding tissues near the tumour may occur, but side effects can usually be controlled.
Chemotherapy
Drugs and medications can be used to interfere with the cancer cells’ ability to grow and spread, which is called chemotherapy. Breast cancer often responds well to this treatment. Chemotherapy can affect healthy cells in the body as well, so side effects can occur. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, hair loss and an increased risk of infection. These side effects can usually be reduced or controlled, and most people respond well to chemotherapy.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy differs from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in that the former reduces certain hormones in the body, while the latter increases them. Hormone therapy treatment will reduce the availability of estrogen and/or progesterone if it is determined that the tumour is sensitive to these hormones. By limiting the hormones, the cancer cells will starve and their growth and spread will be slowed. Either a pill or an injection is used to administer the hormone therapy.
Herceptin Therapy
The biological drug Herceptin has been used for many years in some cancer centres for the treatment of advanced stage breast cancer that has the HER-2 receptor on the cancer cells. In some places it is now being used on small percentage of patients with early breast cancer, but it is not for everyone. Tests can be performed on the patient to determine if there is a large amount of the protein marker HER-2 in their genes. If it is concluded that there is a large amount of HER-2 present, the patient may benefit from Herceptin therapy. The Herceptin will target specific areas of a cancer cell to reduce the cell’s ability to spread. There are side effects and risks with taking Herceptin such as damage or weakening of the heart muscle, rash, fever, chills, muscle aches and nausea.
Adjuvant Therapy
As an additional precaution to prevent the cancer from coming back, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or a combination of all three may be given to the patient.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Complementary therapies are therapies that are used together with conventional treatments. Examples of complementary therapies are meditation, visualization, relaxation, and therapeutic touch therapies. Alternative therapies are used instead of conventional treatments. Examples of alternative therapies are “natural” medicines, vitamins, herbal remedies, traditional Chinese medicines and special diets. Many people say these therapies have helped them, but more research is necessary to determine their effectiveness. When a patient is considering a complementary or alternative therapy, they should learn as much as they can about the treatment and then discuss it with their healthcare team, since it might affect tests or other treatments.