Breast cancer can be treated in many different ways. Each treatment method will work best for different individuals. Some people see best results from a combination of different treatments. It is best to consult with your doctor about which treatment method is right for you. However, it is a good idea to know a little about each of the most common treatment types before consulting with a doctor. This way you can make the most informed decision.
Surgery
Surgery is almost always used to help fight cancer. Surgery is usually the first step in fighting cancer. The cancer is removed, and the breast is reconstructed. There are several different types of surgery. The mastectomy removes the whole breast. The lumpectomy removes the cancer tumor and a little of the surrounding tissue. A axillary lymph node dissection is often used when the cancer has spread past the milk ducts in the breast.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is another common form of breast cancer treatment. After the cancer has been removed the drugs are placed into the blood stream. The drugs kill any rapidly reproducing cells. Since cancer reproduces very quickly, this is an effective way to remove all cancer from the entire body. However, there are serious side effects to this treatment as well such as hair loss, nausea, and weakness.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy sends targeted radiation to the area affected by the cancer. The radiation helps kill any lingering cancer cells that might exist. Radiation treatments are usually prescribed for women who have stage 0 through stage III form of cancer. It is not used as much for higher levels of cancer because it is a system designed to target small areas of the body.
Hormonal Therapy
Hormonal therapy is used for hormone positive forms of breast cancer. The hormone therapy blocks the production of estrogen in the body which can shrink hormone positive breast cancers. This form of treatment is rarer than the others because hormone positive breast cancer is not as common.
Complementary and Holistic Medicine
Complementary and holistic medicine is often used in conjunction with other treatments. Usually these kinds of medicines help ease side effects, improve the quality of life of the patient, and help soothe symptoms. Treatments often include improved diet, exercise, and herbs. Rarely is holistic medicine used completely to heal cancer, although some people believe that it can. It is best to talk to your doctor before starting any holistic therapies.
The most important natural treatment for cancer is one's diet. Eating glucose rich foods feeds your cancer cells and cutting off their food supply can help kill your cancer cells. Many survivors have benefitted from the Breast Cancer Diet