Breast cancer forms in the cells of the breast and can affect men and women. It is second only to skin cancer in the number of new cases diagnosed each year in women, and it is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American women. According to the National Cancer Institute, older age, early menstruation, a positive personal or family history of breast cancer, hormone use, prior radiation therapy and an older age at first childbirth all increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
Instructions
1. Discuss your treatment options with your oncologist and other doctors. Your specific treatment plan will depend on the type of breast cancer your have, what stage your cancer is in, your overall health and the preferences of you and your doctors.
2. Undergo surgery to remove the cancer. Two types of surgery are available for breast cancer: a lumpectomy and a mastectomy. A lumpectomy involves removing only the malignant tissue and a margin of healthy tissue. A mastectomy removes the entire breast and is recommended for larger tumors and aggressive cancers. Lymph node removal might also be performed if the cancer has spread outside of the breast.
3. Begin chemotherapy to kill any cancer cells that have spread throughout your body. Chemotherapy uses special medications to seek out and destroy malignant cancer cells.
4. Get radiation to target any cancer cells left in your breast following surgery. According to Breastcancer.org, radiation can reduce the rate of breast cancer recurrence by as much as 70 percent.
5. Try hormonal therapy if recommended by your doctor. Treatment with hormonal medications is effective for some types of breast cancer. It works by lowering estrogen levels in the body or blocking the action of estrogens.
6. Take any medications prescribed by your doctor as part of a targeted therapy program. Medications are available that can target specific cancer cells. These medications include Herceptin, Tykerb and Avastin. Treatment with targeted therapy depends on the characteristics of your specific cancer.
7. Eat healthy, get plenty of sleep and take care of the rest of your body during your illness and your recovery period. Breast cancer and its treatments can cause fatigue and other symptoms that might make it difficult to function. A proper diet and adequate sleep are essential to recovery from breast cancer.
8. Follow up with your doctor and keep all your appointments for post-treatment testing, such as CT scans, ultrasounds, blood work and mammograms. Even if you successfully got rid of your breast cancer, you must be rechecked periodically to make certain the cancer has not recurred.
Tags: breast cancer, cancer cells, your doctor, breast cancer, cancer your, specific cancer
