The Top 6 Breast Cancer Treatments

Welcome back to Twins for Wellness, a platform dedicated providing important information about breast cancer In this blog post we will be talking about the different treatments for breast cancer. Treatment depends on different factors such as stage, type of cancer, and other characteristics of the individual person. The following 6 treatments are the most important treatments for breast cancer. They include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

Surgery-One of the Most Important treatments for Breast Cancer

Depending on the stage of breast cancer some people will have surgery first and some will have chemotherapy first to shrink the tumor and stop the spread. I had chemotherapy first, which we thought was weird, but they wanted to stop the cancer from spreading as soon as possible.

Everyone is treated differently so don’t worry if they treat you differently than me.

There are different types of surgery for breast cancer. Two of the most common types of surgery are lumpectomy and mastectomy.

A lumpectomy is a breast-conserving surgery. Only the tumor and a margin around the tumor are taken. A mastectomy is when the entire breast is removed. Lymph nodes are also usually removed during surgery to determine if the cancer has spread. 

Radiation Therapy

This treatment uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells. Radiation is usually done after surgery to target cancer in the remaining breast tissue and lymph node areas. 

I have not undergone radiation therapy yet, but once I do I will write a blog post about my experience.

Chemotherapy-This the Second Most Important Treatment for Breast Cancer

These are drugs that kill cancer cells or prevent their growth. Chemotherapy drugs can be given before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. It may also be used for metastatic breast cancer.

I had chemotherapy before my surgery and wrote about my experience with chemotherapy in a different post. I was able to work during chemotherapy, but everyone reacts differently. Chemotherapy drugs don’t discriminate between good cells and cancer cells so it kills many good cells too which is why you feel so crappy after going to a Chemotherapy session.

Hormone Therapy

This type of treatment is used for breast cancer that is hormone positive. Hormone therapy is used to block the effects of estrogen or lower the estrogen levels in the body. 

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy uses specific drugs that target HER2. These drugs target proteins in breast cancer cells that are helping the cancer spread. Targeting the proteins destroys the cancer cells and helps to stop the growth and spread of the cancer.

Immunotherapy

In some cases, immunotherapy drugs are used to help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Every person diagnosed with Breast cancer is treated differently. It all depends on the type of cancer, how far its spread, and the person’s overall health. My oncologist met with a team of doctors to determine my treatment plan.

I did Chemotherapy first, surgery second, next, I will do radiation therapy and lastly, I will be on hormone blockers for ten years.  I will continue to post about my breast cancer journey to help you understand how I’m surviving breast cancer.

Disclaimer:

The information provided on this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.