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Health -
Breast Cancer
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With any cancer there are two different goals regarding treatment. The goals of treatment are to completely rid the body of cancer and to prevent the cancer from returning in the future. There are many different treatment options for those with breast cancer.
The specific treatment that you may undergo will depend on several different factors including the stage of your cancer, the type of breast cancer that you have and what your doctor feels will benefit you most. Different patients will react differently to various types of treatments so you and your doctor will need to sit down and discuss what options are available to you.
Just as there are many different treatment options for breast cancer, there are also several side effects that you may experience while undergoing treatment. Radiation and chemotherapy are the most common types of breast cancer treatments and may produce many different side effects. Of course, just as treatments react differently in terms of healing for different individuals, the side effects may not affect one patient as much as it does another. Chemotherapy and radiation work by destroying cancer cells in the breasts that typically divide quickly and spread. These treatments however may also affect the healthy cells in your body. The most commonly reported side effects of chemotherapy and radiation include nausea, loss of appetite, weakness and fatigue and weight gain. You may also experience hair loss, soreness in and around the mouth, a lowered resistance to certain infections and premature menopause.
Loss of appetite is a very commonly reported side effect of most types of breast cancer treatments. If you experience loss of appetite from radiation and chemotherapy you can try several things to alleviate the problem such as eating smaller meals throughout the day, drinking beverages before or after meals as opposed to during meals and adding moderate exercise to your daily routine.
Nausea and vomiting are also very common with breast cancer treatment. If you are experiencing a lot of these side effects your doctor should be able to prescribe a medication that will help to ease the symptom. Nausea typically occurs directly after chemotherapy and may last for several days. In order to alleviate the nauseous feeling, try eating smaller meals and avoid things such as citrus fruits and greasy foods. You may also try snacking on crackers and gelatin to settle the nauseous feeling. Ginger ale and chamomile tea also help to ease the nauseous feeling. If you experience severe nausea or are vomiting frequently, you should contact your doctor to see if he or she can offer medications to help with the side effect.
Breast cancer itself is likely going to make you feel weak and fatigued. If after chemotherapy or radiation treatment you have these feelings, there are a few things that may help you to feel more energized. You should ensure that you are getting plenty of rest. Eight hours each night is recommended and if possible, try to get an extra hour or so in naps each day. Avoid caffeine as much as possible, particularly within an hour of bedtime as caffeine can keep you awake. Exercise can also help you to rest better and will increase your appetite as well. Fatigue in breast cancer patients is also often caused by a low red blood cell count or anemia. If this is the case then your doctor will prescribe you a medication that will stimulate your bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. This should alleviate the weakness and fatigue and help you to feel more energized during the treatment phase.
Mouth soreness is a commonly reported side effect of chemotherapy. If you are experiencing soreness around the mouth, your doctor can prescribe a medication to alleviate the soreness. It may also help if you choose softer foods such as cottage cheese, yogurt and scrambled eggs and avoid spicy, fatty and citrus foods that may make your mouth feel much sorer. Your doctor may also check to ensure that the soreness is not the result of an underlying dental problem.
If your side effects are unbearable you should consult with your doctor to rule out other problems. While breast cancer treatment side effects are common, there are many medications and other advice that your doctor can give you to make you more comfortable during the treatment stage of your disease.
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Health & Beauty 
