The Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment
No one wants to be sick--let alone with breast cancer. It's a frightening diagnosis, one that plagues a multitude of women. Fortunately, many cases can be overcome with treatment. However, these treatment techniques can have side effects.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer occurs mainly in women; however, it can manifest in men. It is a malignant tumor that invades the surrounding breast tissues and advances to other remote parts of the body. Generally, breast cancer starts in the cells lining the ducts, while others begin in the cells lining the lobules. As a result, ductal cancers and lobular cancers develop.
Surgery
Women about to undergo breast cancer surgery should discuss the pain alleviation method appropriate for them. The surgery results in temporary pain and tenderness of the affected area. There is also the chance of infection, allergy to anesthesia and bleeding. Breast cancer surgery sometimes requires incision of the nerves, and the patient may feel numb or a tingling sensation in the shoulder, arm, chest and underarm. These effects generally disappear after a few weeks or months.
Radiation
Radiation treatment is one method of treating breast cancer. Usually, the radiation oncologist will discuss the side effects with the patient before surgery begins. Fatigue is the main side effect of this treatment, which can prolong for weeks, sometimes longer, after treatment is administered. The patient may also experience dryness, redness, tenderness and itchiness around the treated area. Patients are encouraged to exercise proper skin care during this time.
Chemotheraphy
The type of drugs the patient receives determines the side effects of chemotherapy. Like other treatment methods, the side effects differ from person to person. Generally, when the anti-cancer treatment drug affects the blood cells, it causes infection, bleeding and energy loss during and after treatment. Hair follicle cells and cells lining the digestive area also split quickly. Therefore, patients undergoing chemotheraphy may suffer hair loss, nausea, vomiting, oral sores and diarrhea.
Hormonal Theraphy
Tamoxifen is the most widely used hormonal treatment for breast cancer. It stops the body from using estrogen but does not halt its formulation. It can cause vaginal discharge, hot flashes and irregular menstruation. Tamoxifen users are urged to contact their physician should they encounter erratic bleeding. It generally doesn't cause life-threatening side effects but can cause blood clots in the leg veins. In rare cases, tamoxifen has caused cancer in the uterus lining.
Biological Therapy
Herceptin is a biological treatment used for treating breast cancer that is in the advanced stage. Common side effects are chills and fever. In some cases, the patient may experience nausea, vomiting, pain, feebleness, headaches and breathing problems. It can also cause heart contamination, which can result in heart failure. Before administering Herceptin, the health care provider checks the patient for lung and heart deficiency.
Tags: cells lining, side effects, after treatment, breast cancer, breast cancer
