Chemotherapy Radiation and Biological Therapy
Other forms of therapy are used in fighting breast
cancer. Chemotherapy, radiation, and biological therapies are used
in treating breast cancer throughout the body. Chemotherapy is a
combination of drugs that is given through an IV or by pill. The
medication is carried into the bloodstream and travels through the
body to kill any stray breast cancer cells. The dosage amount and
strength of the chemicals depend on the their affect on the rapidly
dividing cancer cells.
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Chemotherapy is usually gave through an
outpatient clinic, the doctor’s office, or in the home.
Sometimes a patient receiving chemotherapy treatment may
need to spend time in the hospital.
Side effects will depend on the dosage and
drugs being used in the treatment. Chemotherapy affects the
blood cells that are needed to carry oxygen to your body,
fight infection, and help your blood to clot. If they are
affected, you are more prone to infections, bruising, or
excessive bleeding. Chemotherapy also damages hair cells
and can cause hair to fall out during therapy. Your hair
will grow back, but it may come in a different color and may
have a different texture. Your stomach lining may also be
affected by chemotherapy. It can cause nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, and lip and mouth sores. Your doctor is the
source of information to control any of these side effects.
Anticancer drugs can cause numbness or tingling in the
extremities but usually disappears after treatment is
finished. |
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There are warnings that some chemotherapy drugs
can cause heart problems, damage the ovaries, and bring on signs
of early menopause. Infertility is also a danger to those who
are having chemotherapy treatment. You can become pregnant
while going through therapy, but the effects of the drugs on
unborn children are not known. You should talk to your doctor
about birth control before starting chemotherapy treatment.
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Hormone treatments of progesterone and
estrogen are used if you have a breast tumor that needs
hormones to continue to grow. Hormone therapy may include a
drug that blocks natural hormones and block the ovaries from
making estrogen. Surgery may be needed to remove your
ovaries if the patient has not gone through menopause.
Side effects are specific to the drug you
receive during hormone therapy. Tamoxifen is one of the
most common hormone therapy drugs used. The side effects of
this drug are similar to menopausal symptoms and sometimes
include vaginal dryness, or discharge. Other effects can
include irregular menstrual cycles, fatigue, headaches,
nausea, and vomiting. Tamoxifen does not cause serious side
effects in every patient. Although they are rare, there are
a few serious side effects of Tamoxifen including blood
clots and a slight increase in their risk of stroke. |
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Biological therapy is for women who can use their
own immune system to fight their cancer cells. The immune
system is our body’s natural defense against cancer and any
disease. This therapy is used for women who have tumors with
too much of a certain protein. By blocking this protein (HER2),
it stops or slows the growth of the cancer cells.
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