Breast cancer Chemotheraphy Chemotherapy is usually given later than surgery to reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back. This is called adjuvant treatment.This generally includes a type of drug called an anthracycline drug,such as epirubicin or else doxorubicin. If there’s a higher risk of the cancer coming back,the drug Taxotere can be usually included. Your oncologist may give you a option of chemotherapy treatments,as different combinations have different unwanted effects and as well will explain what the advantages are and what side effects you’re likely to get. Adjuvant chemotherapy is frequently given past surgery when the cancer is: Large,high-grade has spread to the lymph nodes,triple negative,HER2 positive (chemotherapy can often be given with Herceptin).
Chemotherapy procedures: Chemotherapy drugs are given right into a vein (intravenously) as injections or drips(infusions) or as tablets to take at home. You’ll usually have your treatment in the chemotherapy day unit. Intravenous chemotherapy is usually given through a small tube (cannula) within your arm. Occasionally, it’s given through a soft plastic tube called a central or PICC line. A central line is put into a vein inside your chest under a general or local anaesthetic. If a tube is put into a vein in the bend of your arm, it’s generally known as a PICC line. Chemotherapy can also be given into an implantable port (portacath), which is a thin, soft plastic tube having a rubber disc (port) on the end. The tube is inserted into a vein until its tip sits just above your heart and the port lies under the skin on your upper chest.
Chemotherapy can also be given to shrink a big cancer before surgery (neo-adjuvant treatment). If it shrinks the cancer successfully, only part of the breast may be removed, avoiding the necessity for the mastectomy.There are many different chemotherapy drugs used to treat breast cancer,and they’re often used in combinations. Side effects of chemotherapy: It’s not advisable to be pregnant while having chemotherapy, since the drugs may harm an unborn baby. Younger females may find that chemotherapy brings on an early menopause, which can be difficult to deal with. If chemotherapy is likely to make you infertile and you intend to have children, it’s important to discuss this with your doctor before treatment begins. Everyone is different and will react to chemotherapy treatment in a different way. Some people could have very few side effects while some will have a lot. Almost all side effects are only short-term all of which will slowly disappear once the treatment has stopped. For more details on Breast cancer treatment visit http://fortiscancerinstitute.com/websites/fortiscancerinstitute/breast_cancer.html