Excluding the surgery, there are three primary
treatments being used today as a breast cancer treatment and they include
chemotherapy, hormone therapy and radiotherapy.
* Chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously or in
tablet form. Chemotherapy given intravenously usually requires the patient
to be at the doctor's office for several hours as the medication is slowly
administered. The treatment is on a schedule determined by the doctor and
a rest period of a few weeks between sessions is usual. This allows your
body to recover from any side effects of the treatment.
* Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy rays
to destroy the cancer cells, while doing as little harm as possible to the
healthy cells. Radiotherapy is often used after surgery but may
occasionally be used before, or instead of surgery.
If part of the breast has been removed, radiotherapy is
usually given to the remaining breast tissue, to reduce the risk of the
cancer coming back in that area. After a mastectomy, radiotherapy to the
chest wall may be given if your doctor thinks there is a risk that any
cancer cells have been left behind.
* There are many different types of hormonal therapy
and they work in different ways. They are often given after surgery and
radiotherapy for breast cancer, to reduce the chance of the cancer coming
back. Hormonal therapy is usually given after chemotherapy.
While your options may appear to be limited, they are
not. There are dozens of variation of medications being used today to work
with your body to help destroy the cencer cells. If one treatment is not
working, another treatment may be used. Remember to be honest with your
doctor about how you are feeling. Your doctor is the second most important
person in helping you get better but they can not do their job if you do
not talk to them.
Now, who is the most important person when it comes to
getting better? You are! Take care of yourself, realize that you are sick,
need help and support. If you hate asking for help, just remember that
when you are better, the opportunity may come up that you can help someone
else—and that is what it is all about!