Breast Cancer Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a procedure that has shown to be of merit to cancer patients in the fact that it helps the body to rid itself of cancerous cells. While the term chemotherapy is familiar to most people, few realize exactly what chemotherapy is.

What is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is known as a ‘systematic’ therapy. It is usually reserved for more advanced cases of breast cancer where the risk of the disease spreading through the body is prevalent. Chemotherapy travels through the bloodstream and affects the rapidly-growing cells that are found in your body. While the main goal of chemotherapy is to attack the fast-growing cancer cells that may be present in your system, your body also has a number of quick-growth cells that can be affected by the treatment.

Blood cells, as well as cells in the mouth, intestinal tract, nose, nails, and hair are also affected by a chemotherapy regimen. It is of utmost importance to remove any cancerous cells from your body after a bout with cancer, and many people employ the use of chemotherapy as a type of insurance policy against the possibility that any cancerous cells may still be in their system.

Chemotherapy Cycle

There are a host of terms to become familiar with when one is about to undergo chemotherapy; every time you visit the doctor for a treatment, it’s called a “cycle”. The term “course” refers to all of the chemotherapy that you have undergone throughout the period of your treatment. A typical course of chemotherapy usually consists of between four and eight cycles.

Side Affects with Chemotherapy

As you may guess, there are many side-effects associated with getting chemotherapy treatment. Some of the more common side-effects of chemotherapy include a loss of hair, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in tastes and smells, menopause, memory loss, and infection. While these side-effects generally go away within a few months of completing a course of chemotherapy, one should take note of the long-term effects the treatment may cause.

While uncommon, chemotherapy can lead to such long-term issues as bone loss, neuropathy (a problem associated with the hands or the feet), and the irritation of tear ducts. When undergoing chemotherapy, if any of the above problems arise, it is important to address them with your doctor.

Consult Your Health Care Provider

There are lots of medications that can be used to control the various side effects of chemotherapy, but the doctor cannot help you unless they know what problems you are facing. However, chemotherapy can prove to be a necessary treatment when someone faces a risk of cancer spreading throughout their body.

As with any significant medical procedure, it is highly recommended that you confirm the need for chemotherapy with a doctor that you can trust. When able, a second opinion from another qualified health care professional can be of merit to properly addressing your need for the therapy. Never make any decisions before thoroughly understanding the risks you face and the options that you have.