The sudden increase in life-saving treatments against breast cancer in the recent years has brought hope to many. Today there's an overwhelming list of options of treatment choices available. But along with them also comes a range of side-effects.
The risks and side-effects differ from person to person depending on the nature of the cancer, where it is located, extent of it as well as the treatment being given. Let's have a look at the forms of breast cancer treatments and their side-effects:
Surgery
Removing the cancerous tissue is one of the most common breast cancer treatments, customary surgical procedures being lumpectomy, Partial or Segmental Mastectomy or Quadrantectomy, Total Mastectomy, Modified Radical Mastectomy or Radical Mastectomy.
Surgery may lead to tenderness and a dull ache at the spot of incision. There's a possibility of the person experiencing loss of balance and weight shift in the body due to removal of breast, further leading to distress in the back, neck and shoulders. Because nerves may be damaged during the surgery, there;s a risk of lack of feeling and prickly sensation in various parts of the upper body like the underarm, chest, arm and shoulder which may be temporary or permanent.There;s also a high risk of lymphedema since the removal of lymph nodes under the arm can slow the flow of lymph fluid causing swelling which can lead to infection and other serious complications.
Radiation
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy damages the DNA and other compositional features of the cancer cells by focusing high-energy X-rays on the tumour. Radiotherapy may be internal or external, the most common form of internal therapy being brachytherapy.
Radiation therapy has very few side-effects which are majorly temporary. The side effects of radiotherapy are fewer than those of external radiation; nausea, fatigue and changes to the breast (due to breast tissue changes) being the common ones. A person’s skin may become dry, itchy and red where it is treated by external radiation.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer medicines to weaken and destroy cancer-causing cells in the body. This treatment may be used at any stage of cancer. A few commonly used drugs are Adriamycin, methotrexate, taxol and 5fluorouracil.
Since chemotherapy targets all fast reproducing cells, the parts of one's body containing such cells are most vulnerable to being affected by chemotherapy; like hair follicles and gastrointestinal tract leading to fatigue, hair loss from scalp, face, body, and pubic area. The person may develop mouth ulcers and sores, also altering the taste and smell. Chemotherapy also causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea as well as causing interference in the menstrual cycle of women leading to premature menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.
Hormonal Therapy
Hormonal therapy causes death of the cancer cells by denying them of the oestrogen needed for them to grow. This treatment is usually given before the surgery or during radiotherapy.
Tamoxifen is one of the drugs used in this therapy which obstructs the activity of the oestrogen hormone, but it can cause blood clots and stroke. It may cause premenopausal symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal discharge; also it may result in irregular menstrual periods and the skin around the vagina may become dry and itchy. Other side-effects include nausea, vomiting, increased risk of cancer of the uterus and risk of developing cataracts.
Targeted (Biologic) Therapy
Targeted cancer therapies are treatments that target particular features of cancer cells, such as a protein that allows the cancer cells to grow in a rapid or abnormal way.
Although there are very few side-effects known of targeted therapy, a few common ones are fever and chills, pain, weakness, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, difficulty breathing and rashes.
The risks and side-effects differ from person to person depending on the nature of the cancer, where it is located, extent of it as well as the treatment being given. Let's have a look at the forms of breast cancer treatments and their side-effects:
Surgery
Removing the cancerous tissue is one of the most common breast cancer treatments, customary surgical procedures being lumpectomy, Partial or Segmental Mastectomy or Quadrantectomy, Total Mastectomy, Modified Radical Mastectomy or Radical Mastectomy.
Surgery may lead to tenderness and a dull ache at the spot of incision. There's a possibility of the person experiencing loss of balance and weight shift in the body due to removal of breast, further leading to distress in the back, neck and shoulders. Because nerves may be damaged during the surgery, there;s a risk of lack of feeling and prickly sensation in various parts of the upper body like the underarm, chest, arm and shoulder which may be temporary or permanent.There;s also a high risk of lymphedema since the removal of lymph nodes under the arm can slow the flow of lymph fluid causing swelling which can lead to infection and other serious complications.
Radiation
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy damages the DNA and other compositional features of the cancer cells by focusing high-energy X-rays on the tumour. Radiotherapy may be internal or external, the most common form of internal therapy being brachytherapy.
Radiation therapy has very few side-effects which are majorly temporary. The side effects of radiotherapy are fewer than those of external radiation; nausea, fatigue and changes to the breast (due to breast tissue changes) being the common ones. A person’s skin may become dry, itchy and red where it is treated by external radiation.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer medicines to weaken and destroy cancer-causing cells in the body. This treatment may be used at any stage of cancer. A few commonly used drugs are Adriamycin, methotrexate, taxol and 5fluorouracil.
Since chemotherapy targets all fast reproducing cells, the parts of one's body containing such cells are most vulnerable to being affected by chemotherapy; like hair follicles and gastrointestinal tract leading to fatigue, hair loss from scalp, face, body, and pubic area. The person may develop mouth ulcers and sores, also altering the taste and smell. Chemotherapy also causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea as well as causing interference in the menstrual cycle of women leading to premature menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.
Hormonal Therapy
Hormonal therapy causes death of the cancer cells by denying them of the oestrogen needed for them to grow. This treatment is usually given before the surgery or during radiotherapy.
Tamoxifen is one of the drugs used in this therapy which obstructs the activity of the oestrogen hormone, but it can cause blood clots and stroke. It may cause premenopausal symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal discharge; also it may result in irregular menstrual periods and the skin around the vagina may become dry and itchy. Other side-effects include nausea, vomiting, increased risk of cancer of the uterus and risk of developing cataracts.
Targeted (Biologic) Therapy
Targeted cancer therapies are treatments that target particular features of cancer cells, such as a protein that allows the cancer cells to grow in a rapid or abnormal way.
Although there are very few side-effects known of targeted therapy, a few common ones are fever and chills, pain, weakness, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, difficulty breathing and rashes.
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