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January 5, 2008
Gina Andrews
It is devastating to a woman when you hear you
have breast cancer. However, breast
cancer can have a successful survival
rate if the cancer is caught at an early stage.
First, it is important that you find a surgeon
and oncologist that you feel comfortable.
Remember, you have the right to see another
doctor for a second opinion if the doctor you
have been referred to makes you feel
uncomfortable. Once you find the right surgeon
and oncologist, make sure your doctors agree on
the type of treatment you will need to fight
the cancer.
There are two types of surgery -
lumpectomy or a
mastectomy. A lumpectomy is a
surgical procedure to remove the lump or tumor
from the breast tissue. Mastectomy is also a
surgical procedure, but it is a removal of the
entire breast. If the cancer is caught at an
early stage, a lumpectomy may be an option.
Choosing the type of surgery can be an
emotional and difficult decision to make.
Depending on the diagnosis, it is best to
discuss all of your options with your doctors.
After surgery, make sure you wear loose
clothing to avoid touching the surgical area.
If you choose to have a mastectomy, you will
need to purchase a mastectomy bra and a breast
prosthesis. The bra and prosthesis should be
covered if you have insurance.
The next phase of fighting breast cancer is the
type of treatment you will need to undergo. The
treatments are chemotherapy
and/or radiation therapy. The
number of chemotherapy and the type of
chemotherapy will be determined by your
oncologist. Chemotherapy is typically given via
intravenous. Because chemotherapy is given via
intravenous, it is a slow drip and can take
between 2-4 hours or even longer. The effects
of chemotherapy can cause the following side
effects: hair loss, nausea, loss of appetite,
neuropathy, fatigue and anemia, change in taste
and smell, dry
mouth, memory loss, and menopause. There is
medicine today that your doctor can prescribe
to help ease the nausea affect. Hair loss,
unfortunately, can not be avoided. You can,
however, purchase a wig to hide the effects of
hair loss. These effects will eventually
dissipate after the end of treatments.
The common side effects of radiation are
fatigue, skin problems, and loss of appetite.
The most complaint from patients is the
irritation and discoloring of their skin. After
a radiation treatment, the skin will be very
sensitive. Make sure you wear loose clothing
when going to receive treatment. Try to get a
driver to drive you home so you don't have to
worry about driving yourself. The radiation can
and will burn the skin so it is important to
keep the area moist. To help keep the skin
moist, you can use a radiation therapy
lotion to help keep the area moist after
each treatment. With radiation, it is
recommended that you do not use regular
deodorant. Most deodorants have a metallic
ingredient that can interfere with the
radiation treatment. You can purchase a
non-metallic
deodorant by Alra. This special made
deodorant will eliminate perspiration odor
and wetness. The deodorant is gentle and
non-irritating to the skin.
It is also important to be involved with a
strong support group. This can be a difficult
and depressing time in a woman’s life. Being
around other survivors of breast cancer can
help encourage you and ease the emotional
roller coaster as you go through each phase of
the breast cancer.
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