Breast Cancer Treatment: Know Your Options
Discovering the presence of breast cancer during a mammogram can feel overwhelming. It can leave you feeling helpless and as though you've received a death sentence. However, it is important to realize there have been major advances recently in breast cancer treatment. There are numerous options available and you should investigate them all.
One option for breast cancer treatment is surgery. Usually this is the first treatment method used. Several surgical options are available.. A mastectomy is a surgical procedure that involves removal of the entire breast; a lumpectomy is a less invasive surgical procedure in which only the cancerous section of the breast is removed. Your physician is the best person to advise you on which treatment is best for your situation.
Another breast cancer treatment that is often employed is chemotherapy. This courses through the bloodstream and has an affect on the entire body. The purpose of chemotherapy is to destroy any cancer cells that may have spread to other areas in the body. These days chemotherapy is more effective and produces fewer side effects than it has in the past.
There are also several types of holistic therapies that you can try in addition to medical therapies. These can include things such as yoga and acupuncture. The goal of these procedures is typically not to stop or curb the cancer but rather to relieve some of the symptoms and improve the quality of life of the patient.
Radiation therapy is another type of treatment. While some people fear this type of treatment their fears are somewhat ungrounded. Radiation therapy is heavily targeted which means it typically only affects the area it is being administered on. It is fairly easy to tolerate and the side effects will be limited to the area being treated.
Whatever treatment decision you make be sure to discuss all the options with your doctor. Typically a combination of treatments is advised to give you the best shot at riding your body of the cancer. If you are experiencing side effects that are not typical during your treatment it is important to keep an open dialog with your doctor so they can adjust your treatment appropriately.
Finding out that you have breast cancer while you are having a mammogram can be devastating. You may feel shocked, helpless, and panicky and you may fear the worst. But keep in mind that there have been great strides in breast cancer treatment over the years. A variety of options are available and you should find out about all of them and choose those that are best for you. Chemotherapy is favored in many circumstances these days. No matter the choice of treatment, it is very important to discuss all the options with your physician. Often times, a combination of treatments will be prescribed.
Published August 30th, 2008