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Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatments
Breast Cancer Treatments: Chemotherapy
with radiation, chemotherapy affects normal as well as cancer cells.
The Chemotherapy side effects are primarily influenced by the dosage and particular medications. Anticancer
medications typically attack quickly dividing cells. These include the blood cells that protect the body from
disease, aid in blood clotting, and transport oxygen to every area of the body. Patients with blood cell problems
are more prone to infections, may bruise or bleed readily, and may have unusual weakness and extreme fatigue.
Rapidly dividing cells in hair roots and cells that line the
digestive tract may also be affected. As a result, side effects may include loss of hair, poor appetite,
nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, or mouth and lip sores.
Today, many of these side effects are manageable because to new or enhanced medications. Most side effects
are transient and disappear with time. . Hair grows back, but it may be different in color and texture.
Some anticancer drugs can damage the ovaries. If the ovaries fail to produce hormones, the woman may have
symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and vaginal
dryness. Her periods may become irregular or may stop, and she may not be able to become
pregnant.Though they are extremely uncommon, other
long-term adverse effects include included heart weakness and secondary malignancies including
cancer
(cancer of the blood cells).
During therapy, menstrual women may still be able to become pregnant. Before starting chemotherapy
, a woman should discuss birth control with her doctor because it is unknown how chemotherapy may
affect an unborn child. Some women can become pregnant again after therapy, although infertility
is more likely to be permanent in women over the age of 35..
Breast Cancer Treatments: Hormonal Therapy
The hormonal therapy's adverse effects are mostly influenced by the medication or type of therapy being used.
Tamoxifen is the most common hormonal treatment. This drug blocks the cancer cells' use of estrogen but does not
stop estrogen production. Tamoxifen may cause hot flashes, vaginal discharge or irritation, nausea, and
irregular periods. When using tamoxifen, women who are still menstruation or have irregular periods may
get pregnant more quickly. They should discuss birth control methods with their doctor.
Serious side effects of tamoxifen are rare. It can cause blood clots in the veins, especially in the legs
and in the lungs, and in a small number of women, it can slightly increase the risk of stroke. Also,
tamoxifen can cause cancer of the lining of the uterus. Any unusual
vaginal bleeding should be reported to The doctor
might perform a pelvic examination, a uterine lining biopsy, or other testing. (Women who have a hysterectomy,
or surgery to remove the uterus, are exempt from this.)
young women whose ovaries are removed to deprive the cancer cells of estrogen experience
menopause immediately. Their symptoms are
likely to be more severe than symptoms associated with natural
menopause.
Breast Cancer Treatments: Biological Therapy
The side effects of biological therapy vary depending on the drugs employed and the patient. Wherever the biological
therapy is injected, rashes or swelling are frequently seen.. Flu-like symptoms also may occur.
These and other adverse effects of herceptin are possible, although they usually get better after the first treatment.
Herceptin can less frequently harm the heart, which can result in heart failure. . It can
also affect the lungs, causing breathing problems that require immediate
medical attention. For these reasons, women are checked carefully for heart and lung problems before taking
Herceptin. Patients who do take it are watched carefully during treatment.