Systemic Breast Cancer Treatment

Posted on January 21, 2010 by admin

A diagnosis requiring systemic breast cancer treatment is really scary, but with the variety of treatment options and a continued study of the disease, you still have a better chance of survival than the last generation.  However, the treatment generally has to be much more aggressive and probably toxic in nature, which means you might actually feel worse, before you get better.  The key is to keep in close communication with your health care team, so they can alter the cancer treatment or provide medication to help you through the process.

Ongoing Studies

Today, there are already ongoing studies in systemic breast cancer treatment.  Unfortunately, even when new approaches in the fight against cancer are discovered, it takes between 4-10 years of clinical studies before the newest innovations are available for the general public.

The reason it takes so long is that sufficient data regarding the continued success of the treatment and the percentage of patients that remain cancer free or have a relapse must be studied.  Fortunately, the breast cancer patients that agree to be subjects of study do not have to take the risks of the previous generation.

In the past, women agreed to be a part of one of two groups-ladies that actually got treatment for their cancer and those that did not. It was determined by the flip of a coin. Then, the survival rate of each group after a mastectomy was calculated.

Today, women agreeing to participate in clinical trials still get the accepted standard of treatment, or the newest treatment that has not been approved to-date.  Both group get treatment for their cancer, and no one has to go without and feel like they have to sacrifice their life for the advancement of medicine.

The Harsh Reality

In truth, systemic treatment for breast cancer is a nasty business.  Because the jury is still out on how different cancers spread once they leave local control, a doctor cannot predict what will happen with your cancer in the future-whether some undetected cells have escaped the boundaries of the breast.  Since every woman is different, you doctor can only tell you about statistical information learned up to this point.

However, based on several factors, the doctor can give you an educated guess.  For example, if you likely have less than a 10% chance of the cancer going any further than the breast, chances are you will not want to undergo chemotherapy, because the danger to your body is greater than the cancer at this point.

But, if you odds are 20-40% or higher, the doctor will probably suggest undergoing chemotherapy to kill any cancer cells that have likely strayed elsewhere in the body. Unfortunately, chemotherapy cannot differentiate between the good and bad cells, so healthy cells are sacrificed.  Fortunately, healthy cells do not divide and multiple as quickly.  So, they can sometimes repair themselves before the next onslaught of chemotherapy.

Aggressiveness

The aggressiveness of your systemic cancer treatment will depend on the type of breast cancer you have, how pervasive it is, and if it is traveled to other parts of your body like the lungs or bone.  The doctor can run tests to tell if the current regime of cancer treatment is effective by measuring the size of the tumors at different points during the course of the treatment.  If the tumors are shrinking, it also means that the cancer cells traveling in the blood are fewer in number.

To determine how well the cancer treatment is working, the doctor might order a C-T scan or a PET scan, to take very detailed pictures of your body.  The test can look at every part of your body, layer by layer to see how the cancer cells are reacting to the aggressive cancer treatment.

However, these scans are very expensive and are quite extensive, so the doctor cannot order one any time you or he wants.  It may even take some convincing to get the insurance company to agree that they are a necessary part of your treatment process.  Plus, it takes time for the treatments to do their job and make a significant difference.

Half the Battle

So, even as sick as you might feel, it is important to try and be patient, eat as well as you can, and try to maintain healthy habits, so your body has the strength to fight off the cancer invasion. Fighting a cancer disease is difficult, but your attitude will be half of the battle.  Patients with a positive attitude are more likely to realize a cure and live longer than those that give up to the monster within the body.

In conclusion, there is nothing fun about being told that you will need to undergo systemic breast cancer treatment.  But, it does not mean that you cannot beat the cancer that has invaded your body.  It simply means that more aggressive treatments will be necessary and that you will have to believe you can get well. Your positive attitude is half the battle in defeating this disease.

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Diagnosed with Breast Cancer: What Now?

Posted on January 21, 2010 by admin

You have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.  The news is devastating.  Even if you have a history of the disease in the family, there is no way a woman can truly be prepared for the news.  Unless you have never turned on the television, read magazines, or talked to other women, you know that the road ahead is not going to be easy-to say the least.So, what do you do now?  What is going to happen next?  How are you and your family going to cope with whatever lies ahead?  No one can really know the answer to all of the questions and  concerns today.  But, there is something you can do, right now-today that will help you face an uncertain future.

Take Charge

The best thing you can do for yourself today is to decide to take charge.  Be proactive.  Your health care team is working for you, not the other way around.  If there is something that makes you uncomfortable, or you do not feel right about the care being received, speak out.

Of course, your family doctor and oncologist are educated and experienced. (If not, find another right now.) However, these people see hundreds of patients every year, and no two women are alike.  The professionals may have excellent recommendations, but they are not you.  How the cancer is treated and the procedures that are undertaken to kill this cancer are up to you.

Ask Questions

As part of dealing with your cancer, ask questions. Never apologize for wanting to know about your body, health care choices, and what to expect.  You have a right to know. If your health care provider does not take the time to give you the answers, you may want to find a team that makes you feel comfortable.  Cancer is not cured overnight.  In order to cope with the continuing treatment, you need to trust that the doctors, nurses, and technicians have your best interests at heart.

Become Educated

Even though the health care team will give you information about your breast cancer treatment options, you need to become educated.  Learn as much as you possibly can about your breast cancer and the treatment options that are available to you.  For example, will you need a mastectomy or will a lumpectomy suffice?

Will you need radiation and/or chemotherapy?   Will you get really sick, or will you be able to continue working?  Will you need help taking care of children or the house?  What kind of support system will you need in the coming months?

Do not totally depend on the doctors to give you all the answers.  Be proactive and learn all you can about what is going on with your body.  Knowing what to expect, good or bad, will give you more strength and confidence to face cancer treatment and recovery.

A Second Opinion

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, it is always a good idea to get a second opinion.  Although it will mean more testing, some expense, and a little more time, it will be well worth the effort.  With so many different cancer diagnostic tools and treatment options available today, it is important to confirm a diagnosis.

Also, health care providers are not created equal.  While one doctor will recommend an immediate mastectomy, the other might feel that a less invasive procedure will remove all of the cancer.  Then, it will be up to you.  You will have to decide what you want to do with your own body.  No one can/should make that decision on your behalf.

Seek Support

Whenever facing a serious diagnosis like breast cancer, it is a good idea to seek support and take a trusted friend or family member with you to doctor’s appointments or treatments.  Not only will the moral support help give you the strength to cope, but they can speak for you, if you cannot speak for yourself. They will also be able to remember details or ask questions that you might forget.

For example, if you have to undergo a surgical procedure, it is a good idea to have someone there with you in the hospital.  Even though they do their best, health care providers are not going to be by your bedside around the clock.

However, a friend or family member can make demands for your well being or comfort, if the medical staff does not notice your need right away.  You will have a voice, even when you are asleep or unable to communicate your needs properly.

In short, the only thing good about being diagnosed with breast cancer is the ability to get treatment and do whatever it takes to save your life.  But, even with the increased survivability of the disease, the road to good health will not be an easy one.  Therefore, even though you are devastated and confused, the best thing you can do for yourself at this point is to take charge.  Speak up, ask questions, seek answers, and make informed choices about what is best for you.

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Breast Cancer Local Control

Posted on January 19, 2010 by admin

If you have just been diagnosed with breast cancer, chances are that panic mode is taking over, and you want that cancer out of your body yesterday. In truth, the mutated cancer cells have probably been in your body for years, and you simply did not know.  Although that does not mean you can let it go for years and worry about it later, it does give you a little time to make an informed decision about the health care options that are right for you.  For example, if the disease is caught in the early stages, you definitely need to understand breast cancer local control.

You are not Alone

Naturally, you have been devastated by the news that you have breast cancer.  But, before you panic and start planning a memorial service, remember that you are not alone. One in eight women has stood in your shoes.

Medical science makes breast cancer research a priority. The survival rate for breast cancer has greatly increased in just the past few years. No one is guaranteed the next minute, let alone old age.  But, you have an excellent chance of being cured and living a happy and productive life for years to come.  You will have a health care team that dedicates their lives to the battle against cancer and helping you beat this monster.

Not all Cancers are Created Equal

While researching breast cancer and trying to find a cure, scientists have found out that there are different types of breast cancer.  Some are slow growing, while others are on the fast track.  How the doctors and you decide to treat the cancer depends on its veracity.

However, if the doctor says the treatment is for local control of the disease that is good.  It simply means that the cancer is still in the breast area and has not metastasized to other parts of the body or gotten into the bloodstream yet.  Your chances of realizing a cure faster are greater.

But, if it is a fast growing cancer, you will have to get that second opinion, and decide on a course of cancer treatment as soon as possible. You do not want the cancer to leave the breast area and continue to move on, affecting other parts of the body.  You still should not panic, because that will not do you any good emotionally or physically.

But, you do not have the time to feel sorry for yourself and wallow in your misery either.  Put on a stiff upper lip and help the health care provides get control of this beast.  You can have a meltdown later, after the treatments are over.

Methods of Local Control

The methods the doctor will use to get rid of your cancer will depend on the type of your cancer, family history, and your personal choices.  For example, doctors from the old school of thought and some patients simply want to opt for mastectomy to get rid of the cancer and plan for a breast reconstruction later.

It is important to make the decision whether or not to undergo reconstruction before the cancer surgery for two reasons.  Sometimes, the doctor will opt to remove the cancer and have a plastic surgeon handy to facilitate an immediate reconstruction.  Alternatively, the doctor can try and leave part of the breast or enough skin to help in a plastic surgeon effect a more natural reconstruction.

Some women choose to have a mastectomy and not undergo reconstruction.  Comfortable in their own bodies, and just happy to have the cancer excised, they would rather wear a prosthetic in public, so their clothes fit properly and people do not stare.

Less Invasive Method

Depending on the type of cancer and its size and location, some doctors might suggest a lumpectomy.  During surgery, the cancer and a wide margin of healthy cells is removed to make sure all of the disease has been eradicated.  Just to make sure, radiation may be required to kill of any other potentially undetected mutating cells, so the cancer will have less chance of paying another unwelcomed visit in the future.
By removing only the lump, it is easier to reconstruct the breast.  Especially for some patients, this option alleviates some of the emotional trauma that naturally accompanies a diagnosis of breast cancer.

In short, treatment for breast cancer is a big deal.  But, thank goodness medical science has greatly improved survival of this devastating disease.  Back in your mother’s day, a breast cancer diagnosis meant they should get their affairs in order.  Many women felt so alone, because breast cancer was not an appropriate subject for conversation.  But, you are not alone.  You will have a team of health care providers dedicated to beating breast cancer.  Know that whatever choices you make in treating your breast cancer are the right ones, as long as you decide that is what is best for you.

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