Millions of women find themselves impacted by cancer at some point in their life. Early detection and prompt treatment is necessary to ensure you have the best possible outcome. You may wonder, how is breast cancer treated? Below you will find the traditional breast cancer treatment methods and what to consider before moving forward with treatment.
How Is Breast Cancer Treated?
There exist a number of different breast cancer treatments. The type of treatment a patient receives depends on the kind of breast cancer that they have, in addition to how far the cancer has progressed. One or more of the following treatments can prove useful to treat breast cancer.
- Chemotherapy: This is one of the more common and well-known cancer treatments. Special medicine shrinks or kill the cancer cells. This can see administeration intravenously, in the form of pills, or both.
- Surgery: Some patients can benefit from surgical treatment. The surgery involves the surgeon cutting out the cancerous tissue.
- Radiation Therapy: This type of treatment utilizes high-energy rays to kill the cancer cells. The high-energy rays used in radiation therapy are similar to X-rays.
- Hormonal Therapy: This treatment blocks the cancer cells from getting the hormones necessary to grow and spread.
- Biological Therapy: In conjunction with your body’s own immune system, this treatment assists in fighting the cancer cells. It can also help control the side effects from other cancer treatments.
- Alternative Medicine: This is not the standard in the medical field. Some patients choose alternative treatment methods that include things like meditation, yoga, herbs, and supplements. These have not been scientifically tested and are not be safe as compared to the standard treatments listed above.
Breast Cancer Treatment Plan
There are a number of breast cancer treatments and each patient is uniquely different based on the progression of their own cancer and the type of breast cancer that they have. A breast cancer treatment plan is created by a team of doctors from a number of different specialties. The team often comprises a surgeon, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist. A medical oncologist treats cancer with medicine, while a radiation oncologist treats it with radiation. Still, working with a team of medical professionals is necessary to effectively treat breast cancer.
Chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, biological, and hormonal therapy are all standard treatments for breast cancer. However, there are also complementary treatment methods. Complementary treatment works in addition to the standard treatments. Still, these can help reduce unwanted symptoms and make the treatment process smoother. It is important to note that these should be used in conjunction with traditional methods and not a primary treatment.
Assessing Breast Cancer Treatment Options
Choosing the right treatment can be overwhelming. Patients should consider the following before moving forward with their breast cancer treatment plan.
- What are the available treatment options?
- What are the side effects of each treatment plan?
- How long will treatment last?
- What short- and long-term effects appear associated with each type of treatment?
- What are the risks and benefits of each type of treatment?
Before moving forward with a treatment plan, patients should consider getting a second opinion. A second opinion can provide a fresh perspective that can assist in the final decision-making process.
Breast Imaging Services
Regular mammograms are necessary for your health. It is recommended that those at an average risk for breast cancer get their first screening at age 40. Those who are at a higher risk should get screened sooner. Still, we advise discussing this your medical provider as each person’s risk level provess different. If you need breast imaging services, contact the team at BreastGyn Imagers. They offer turnkey mammography solutions that are accurate, timely, and fast.