subject: What You Should Know About Breast Cancer Treatment [print this page] Thanks to advancements in technology, being diagnosed with breast cancer doesn't have to be a death sentence. There are several different types of breast cancer treatments that can help cure your condition or lessen the advancement of the disease. The more you know about the disease and possible treatments, the better you can fight the disease and improve the quality of your life. You can also talk to your caregiver about the different breast cancer treatments that are available if you have any questions or concerns.
The goal of any breast cancer treatment is to get rid of the disease. In order to do this, a lymph node dissection procedure is performed, and lab work is done to determine whether the disease is still present. Surgery can be done to remove any malignant lumps that are found. A lumpectomy can be done to remove certain tumors and surrounding tissue. A mastectomy can be done to remove a portion of the affected breast, the whole breast or even both breasts to stop the progression of the disease. Segmental mastectomy can be done to remove some of the lining that exists over the chest muscles that are just below the cancerous areas.
Chemotherapy is administered through drugs that are designed to halt the growth of cancerous cells. Chemo can be given two ways: through systemic delivery and regional delivery. Systemic refers to the way it is delivered into the body. The drugs are taken orally or injected into the bloodstream and can target the diseased cells that are located anywhere in the body. Regional delivery is where the drugs are administered through the cerebrospinal fluid, certain organs or the abdomen, and the drugs can destroy any diseased cells that are located in those regions.
Chemotherapy is often prescribed before any surgery options are given. When it is effective, it can shrink any malignant tumors and greatly reduce the amount of cancerous tissue the surgeon needs to remove during surgical breast cancer treatment. Sometimes even after surgery, further treatment may still be needed to kill off any remaining harmful cells to prevent the growth of tumors.
Another form of breast cancer treatment is radiation therapy. This method uses high-energy radiation waves to arrest the growth of diseased cells and to kill them off. This method can be performed two ways. One is externally, with the doctor using a machine to produce radiation and send it into the body to the targeted tissue. It can also be done internally with a radioactive substance being injected in the area near the disease. The method used depends on the type of disease and the stage of the condition.
Hormone therapy is another way that breast disease can be treated. It works by getting rid of certain hormones that contribute to the growth of these cells. Tests have to be done to determine which, if any, are aiding in the growth of the disease. Then the appropriate action can be taken to prevent the production of the hormone in the body.
by: Anders Abadie
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