Breast Cancer Treatment, the most common invasive cancer in women that takes many lives every year. Isn’t it feels so sad and unfair?
Although death is inevitable, we don’t want to die with sickness. The good thing is that the advances in screening and Breast Cancer Treatment Guidelines have improved survival rates dramatically.
If you are unaware of the symptoms then it might be difficult to reduce the risk factors. Therefore, we, at Canwinn Foundation are going to share some important things along with Breast Cancer Treatment Plan.
Breast Cancer Treatments
Breast Cancer Treatment Plan is totally based on several factors:
-type and stage of the cancer
-patient’s sensitivity to hormones
-age, overall health, and choices of the person
More commonly, Breast cancer has been treated with surgeries that can be either Lumpectomy or Mastectomy. The process of choosing the surgery depends on both the diagnosis and individual preference.
Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) removes cancer and a part of healthy tissue around it. This surgery can be helpful in preventing the spread of cancer. However, it is only true if the tumor is small in size and can be easily separated from its surrounding tissue.
Mastectomy is surgery to remove the breast completely. However, a simple mastectomy involves removing the lobules, ducts, fatty tissue, nipple, areola, and some skin.
There are therapies available to treat breast cancer in order to completely get rid of it.
Radiation therapy – Meant to kill the remaining cancer cells, radiation therapy uses radiation treatment to kill them after surgery.
Chemotherapy – Surgeries, alone, cannot completely remove all cancer cells. Also, these cells are undetectable in routine modalities of diagnosis and remain dormant inside. Therefore, to remove the chances of reactivation of these deadly cells, doctors prefer using Chemotherapy.
The therapy requires the prescription of cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs to kill cancer cells.
In addition, there are two types of Chemotherapy:
The therapy that is done after the surgery, is called adjuvant chemotherapy.
Whereas, the therapy that is done before surgery to shrink the tumor and make its removal easier is called Neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Hormone blocking therapy
Hormone-sensitive cancers are meant to treat specific hormonal treatments to block hormones produced in our bodies. This particular therapy is an option for those patients who are not suitable candidates for surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy.
Few examples of hormone-blocking therapy medications may involve:
-tamoxifen
-aromatase inhibitors
-ovarian ablation or suppression
-Goserelin, a luteinizing hormone-releasing agonist drug that suppresses the ovaries
Symptoms – Swelling of the Face and Neck
Although, the main reason for swelling on the face and neck can be Lung Cancer. The theory suggests, when a tumor (malignancy) presses on the vein that goes from the head to the heart, it causes swelling. This symptom is also known as superior vena cava syndrome or superior vena cava obstruction. The term superior vena cava is the name of the vein that carries blood from the head and arms to the heart. What happens is that this vein passes near the upper part of the right lung, as well as near lymph nodes in the chest cavity,
therefore, Cancer in the lymph nodes may interfere with the functioning of the superior vena cava, blocking the normal flow of blood.
Not only Breast Cancer can cause superior vena cava obstruction, but, lymphoma, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, and a thymus tumor does too. Moreover, the side effect of radiation therapy to the chest cavity & other therapies can also cause the swelling on face & neck.
For Breast Cancer patients: To prevent swelling on face, you can contact Canwinn Foundation.
How to reduce breast cancer risk
However, there is no way to prevent Breast cancer, you can reduce the risk with some certain lifestyles.
For a female with the age of 50 or above, screening mammography (X-ray) once in a year will detect disease in an early stage. Therefore, the disease can be cured easily.
You should visit any health care provider monthly for the regular clinical breast examination. If you are noticing any lump, it is important to get it checked asap.
-Lifestyle alteration is demanded that will further lessen the risk of breast cancer:
-Plan first birth before the age of 30
-Quit smoking
-Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
-Follow a physically active lifestyle
-Follow a healthful diet containing plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
Above all, Canwinn Foundation is here to help you fight against Cancer. We take every step to cure your illness.
Be healthy!