Knowledge Fights Breast Cancer: Part 2

As we move to the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s clear that people are standing up and fighting against breast cancer. Organizations like the Susan G. Komen Foundation, National Breast Cancer Foundation, and American Cancer Society work tirelessly to promote education and research. It’s important that everyone stay vigilant in the fight against breast cancer. With each person, each story, and each scientific advancement we become closer to beating breast cancer.

Until the fight is won, men and women have to fight breast cancer on an individual basis. As previously mentioned in of this article, early detection and self breast exams are the first line of defense against breast cancer. However, once an individual has been diagnosed with breast cancer, a new defense strategy has to be put in place, a strategy and treatment plan to get rid of the cancer.

When your doctor detects breast cancer, one of the first steps is determining what type of cancer it is. There is noninvasive (in situ), which means that cancer has not spread to other tissues in the breast. The most common type of “in situ” cancer is called ductal carcinoma (DCIS). This indicates the cancer is only in the lining of the milk ducts. The survival rate for noninvasive breast cancer is extremely high because the cancer has not spread and is much easier to treat.

Invasive breast cancer means that the cancer has spread and is invading surrounding tissue. With invasive breast cancer, the concern is that the cancer will spread to different parts of the body like the lymph nodes. If you are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, you will be categorized in Stage I, II, III, or IV.

Depending on the type of breast cancer you have, your doctor will begin to discuss treatment options for removing the cancer. Here is a list of the most common forms of breast cancer treatment: (note there are too many treatment options to list them all):

• Radiation therapy: a high targeted amount of radiation is used on the cancer site.
• Chemotherapy: drugs designed to target the cancer cells and destroy them.
• Biochemical therapy: drugs that use the body’s immune system to fight the cancer and help to repair the body after other types of therapies have been used.
• Hormone therapy: designed to stop or remove certain hormones reaction in the body and stop the growth of cancer cells.
• Surgery: removal of the cancerous cells. This may include partial or complete removal of the breast and surrounding lymph nodes.
• Homeopathic medicine: using diet, exercise and other natural remedies to slow down and/or eliminate the cancer.

Any treatment option will be thoroughly discussed with your doctor and then you will be able to start your treatment line of defense. Often times patients will use a variety of treatment options and those treatments will change based on their effectiveness. With cancer, it’s trial and error until you find something your body responds to.

Unfortunately, there are tough side effects to cancer treatments. Every person is different but some of the common side effects of drug therapy or radiation therapy are loss of hair, nausea, vomiting, change in appetite, fatigue, moodiness, headaches and depression. People who are caring for someone with cancer should be aware of the side effects and be ready to respond accordingly. There are support groups for people going through all the stages of cancer.

I have not personally experienced being diagnosed with cancer, but I watched my aunt and grandmother fight their cancer till the very last day of life. Cancer is a relentless enemy and it takes too many good people too early in life. Knowledge, research and a willing spirit will help keep the fight against breast cancer alive until, God willing, we will win the battle.