Added: 02/25/2006 |
An Examination of Breast Cancer TreatmentsForty years ago any discussion of breast cancer treatments usually included mention of mastectomy bras. At that time a mastectomy was the primary treatment for breast cancer. And since a mastectomy led to the removal of an entire breast, a woman who received a mastectomy needed one of the special mastectomy bras.
How things change. Now a booklet for women with breast cancer indicates that there are a number of different breast cancer treatments. Now the lumpectomy has replaced the mastectomy as the preferred treatment for breast cancer. During a lumpectomy the surgeon removes only the tumor and the surrounding tissue. The lumpectomy is normally followed by a series of supplemental breast cancer treatments.
The nature of the supplemental treatments differs from patient to patient and is decided by a healthcare team. Normally a surgical oncologist, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist and a plastic surgeon work together on such a team. If they were to see a need for additional breast cancer treatments, they could call-in a physical therapist, a health psychologist or a nurse specialist.
All the members of the healthcare team realize that even though present-day breast cancer treatments are less radical than those used forty years ago, women who have had surgery for breast cancer face certain personal concerns. Many women enjoy the opportunity to use a temporary prosthesis, a soft breast-like form that can fit into a bra. By wearing such forms, women can feel more "balanced," and they can also help to avoid harmful back strain.
Other concerns may arise as a result of a woman's response to one of the supplemental treatments. Sometimes a week after a woman undergoes radiation therapy she may notice"sunburn" on her breast and underarm. Other women may have no "sunburn," but they could experience swelling in those areas.
The healthcare team could ask a woman to undergo chemotherapy following surgery. Chemotherapy kills the body's fast-growing cells. It therefore kills the cancer cells, but it can also kills fast-growing normal cells. The death of those fast-growing normal cells could cause a woman to experience periods of nausea. It could also lead to traumatic hair loss.
With proper preparation and adequate counseling a woman should be able to deal with the side effects of the breast cancer treatments. For example, she could purchase a wig before the hair loss occurs. Alternatively she could select a favorite hat or scarf and plan to wear that headpiece. If a woman has experienced periods of nausea, she could lie down on a decorative pillow and cover herself with a colorful blanket. This should help to force a positive outlook on the situation.
Bowel problems can also result from chemotherapy treatments. A woman who experiences diarrhea should drink more fluids and eat bland foods, such as bananas, rice and toast. A woman who experiences constipation should eat high-fiber foods, such as bran, fruit, vegetables and whole-wheat bread.
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