| In this article I am going to cover options for treating | | | | rapidly dividing cancer cells in your body. |
| breast cancer, once it has been diagnosed. | | | | Unfortunately cancer cells are not the only cells in |
| Unlike years ago when options for treatment were | | | | your body that divide, thus the reason that |
| few and not very effective, today there are many | | | | chemotherapy can have such a sickening effect on a |
| options for treating breast cancer, many with | | | | person. Still, chemotherapy is not as hard to go |
| excellent results and chances for full recovery, | | | | through today as it was years ago and is an |
| depending on the type of breast cancer and how | | | | important insurance policy against the spread of the |
| advanced it is. | | | | disease, especially to the lymph nodes, which in many |
| Here is a brief overview of your options today. | | | | cases is fatal. |
| 1. Local Regional Treatment. This is actually treatment | | | | Another treatment that isn't as common is |
| of the lymph nodes in the area surrounding the | | | | tamoxifen, which is a very powerful drug. This drug |
| breast as well as the breast itself. If metastatic | | | | reduces the risk of breast cancer returning after |
| disease is present then the treatment is given to | | | | surgery and even reduces the risk of a woman ever |
| specific areas. One of these methods is radiation | | | | getting breast cancer. However the side effects, |
| therapy or radiotherapy. Much to womens' surprise | | | | though not fatal, can be very serious and |
| there are very few side effects from this therapy | | | | uncomfortable. They include blood clots and uterine |
| and they are restricted to the area being treated. | | | | cancer, hot flushes, early menopause, problems with |
| Radiotherapy is an effective way to destroy the | | | | fertility, nausea and vomiting, weight gain, mood |
| cancer cells and provide the best chance that the | | | | swings, depression and loss of energy. |
| cancer will not come back. | | | | 3. Alternative and Holistic Treatments. These are |
| Another method of this type of treatment is surgery | | | | treatments where the body, mind and spirit are all |
| which is usually the last recourse when all other | | | | treated. Unfortunately there is very little medical |
| methods have failed. With surgery in many cases | | | | evidence to show that these treatments are |
| reconstruction is needed afterwards as often part or | | | | effective. Some of these alternative methods include |
| all of the breast needs to be removed, which is called | | | | acupuncture, meditation, relaxation techniques, and |
| having a mastectomy. However, even this radical a | | | | the use of flaxseed and black cohosh. Flaxseed |
| surgery is not as drastic as it was years ago. Today | | | | supposedly reduces the growth and spread of breast |
| every attempt is made to preserve as much of the | | | | cancer. Black cohosh is supposed to stop the hot |
| healthy breast as possible. | | | | flushes associated with those who have breast |
| 2. Systemic Treatments. This is where the whole | | | | cancer. Again, there is nothing to support either of |
| body is treated as a system. | | | | these claims. |
| The most common systemic treatment is | | | | Years ago breast cancer was pretty much a death |
| chemotherapy. The purpose of chemotherapy is to | | | | sentence. Today with the effective and relatively |
| get rid of any cancer cells that may have spread | | | | safe treatments that have been developed a woman |
| from the breast to other areas of the body. The | | | | can not only survive breast cancer but also have a |
| reason chemotherapy works and also the reason it is | | | | normal healthy life afterwards. |
| so hard on your body is because it attacks the | | | | |