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Treatment

 
Treatment

Chapter: 6 - Treatment

Subchapter: 8 - Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a treatment method that uses a combination of drugs to either destroy cancer cells or slow cancer cell growth. Cytotoxic drugs (meaning “toxic to cells”) are taken intravenously (through the bloodstream) or orally. Chemotherapy is a systemic therapy, meaning that the drugs travel in the bloodstream through the entire body.

Chemotherapy is offered to most patients based on several factors: tumor type, grade, size, receptor status, lymph node involvement and the risk for spread elsewhere. Your medical team will work to select the right blend of chemotherapy drugs to suppress each stage of the cancer cells’ growth. Chemotherapy is commonly prescribed along with other treatment methods such as hormonal and targeted therapies. It can also be used to shrink a tumor before surgery for easier and safer removal.

If you receive chemotherapy, your doctor will administer it in short courses, with several weeks in between to allow your normal cells to recover. This treatment period can be a challenging time emotionally and physically; it is important for you to develop a support team of family or friends that can help comfort and encourage you in this time.

Related Questions

  • Vanessa Deane Profile

    Anyone with Stage IIB IDC E/P+ HER- 1/14 nod, grade 1 not had chemo? Just radiation and Tamoxifen?

    Asked by anonymous

    Stage 2B Patient
    over 6 years 3 answers •
    • sharon s Profile
      anonymous
      Learning About Breast Cancer

      Tubular cancer is often slow.
      Mine was Her2 amplified so grew unusually quickly and grew into nodes. One node chemo. No nodes no chemo seems to be an observational rule.

      Be happy you don't need a port
      Be happy you won't have a bad week and then a good week
      All this with children to protect...

      more

      Tubular cancer is often slow.
      Mine was Her2 amplified so grew unusually quickly and grew into nodes. One node chemo. No nodes no chemo seems to be an observational rule.

      Be happy you don't need a port
      Be happy you won't have a bad week and then a good week
      All this with children to protect get minded and so on is tough my friend. Infusions take the better portions if a morning It's put you out of kids lives for a bit. I always rallied for bus drop off and pick up and was thankful for the break. Summer has has my daughter travel and see America. I don't go to chemo by myself. Rounds five and six have been worse with side effect. I imagine depression would have kicked in but I organized lots of visitors toward the last sessions. And have no one for the last session coming up soon.
      I had TakeThemAMeal .org cover my food obligations for expected down weeks. This gave me freedom to cook or no not. Freedom to choose yoga and PT and house duties.

      This is your time. Focus on getting the time to regroup and revamp. Much of chemo is sleeping and laying low. I gardened when I could I took long walks when I could I read far less than I thought I would and I watched far less tv I have been with my thoughts.

      Chemo is to be endured and the night before and day of you don't want to to the slaughter house have just come good these past few days.
      It is a hard thing to do.

      Are your goals more protection more security? Why risk chemo throughout your body that might linger to long and become an organ cancer.

      Second and third opinions might be necessary here. Or flat out ask onc to do statically outcome. It's just that a stat and not specific to you but some of your variables are used.

      Chemo would help me by 80% not get reoccurrence. I'm healthy and fit otherwise so 20% is now hanging on my nutritional knowledge and oxygenating cells. Most people aren't compliant patients. If they wre wed have a thinner nation I'm compliant and then advocate for myself share with others to educate. Follow through is entirely up
      To them.

      Rid your house of ordinary dairy crackers and breads with soy.
      Bought chicken salad lasagne dishes and hummus most have soy in them.
      Rid yourself of food with hormones. Ordinary milk and cheese and meats. Buy grass fed organic hormone free options.
      Cabot as two aged cheese options that advertise no hormone
      Watch the peanutbutter you use.

      Soy dr want no tofu no soy oil no soy proton but what of we eat a bit every meal and slowly poison ourselves. I've scratched it from our lives.

      Ice cream substitute buy so delicious coconut based chocolate is great

      Bread items are trickier. Panera has two breads with out soy oil
      Or soy flour. Kosovo sells one. Coffee shop/ bakeries often make their own but yes shop like Simone did fifty years ago. The local owner will win and cater to new demands.

      Earth bound with a red label is soy few and dairy free

      As a family make rolled oats Oats coconut raisins other dried sweet glob together using a peanut butter with Soyoil in it A nice uncooked treat for all freeze balls until
      They hold their shape.

      Happy cooking.

      Recipe book:
      Mollie katzen
      Kris Carr
      Vegan sites
      I still make lasagne but I don't order it our. Soy texture hormone cheeses hormone meats that too far away from real food for me these day

      The worst part of chemo eating is it all has to be cooked. No fresh from the tree anything. No fresh strawberries and blackberries and no green salad. All peeled and all cooked. Canned fruit is ok

      1 comment
    • anonymous Profile
      anonymous
      Survivor since 2013

      Vanessa I was grade 1. Stage 1 lumpectomy node neg same hormone status as you. Now doing radiation them tamoxifen no chemo. Did you have oncodx test or genetic testing ??

      4 comments
  • Mary Denoble Profile

    Anyone who was hypthyroid prior to diagnosis: did chemo. affect the amount of thyroid replacement you needed ?

    Asked by anonymous

    Learning About Breast Cancer
    over 6 years 5 answers •
    • View all 5 answers
    • Alison Smith Profile
      anonymous
      Survivor since 2012

      No it didn't for me either

      Comment
    • Marianne R. Profile
      anonymous
      Survivor since 2011

      No it didn't change my thyroid medicatinon.

      Comment
  • Thumb avatar default

    Is it ok to travel (by plane.. Short flight) and stay in hotel 1 week after chemo?

    Asked by anonymous

    Stage 2A Patient
    over 7 years 7 answers •
    • View all 7 answers
    • Marianne R. Profile
      anonymous
      Survivor since 2011

      Ali is right check with your onc then have a great time. Do anything you feel good enough too.

      Comment
    • Ali S Profile
      anonymous
      Survivor since 2011

      I'm sure it's fine! All depends on how you feel. If youre worried about germs, bring a mask. White blood count is lowest 7-10 days after chemo. Ask your doc just in case. You deserve a trip!

      Comment
  • Thumb avatar default

    I feel like the lump has shrunk and I don't feel the heaviness in my breast anymore...is that possible after 2 chemo treatments?

    Asked by anonymous

    Learning About Breast Cancer
    over 7 years 5 answers •
    • View all 5 answers
    • Sharon Danielson Profile
      anonymous
      Survivor since 2007

      I think it is truly possible and also what your oncologist was hoping for. YAHOO!!!!
      Take care, Sharon

      1 comment
    • Thumb avatar default
      anonymous
      Learning About Breast Cancer

      Yes it's possible and a very good sign. My bra got slightly looser after 2 treatments. I mentioned it to my onocologist and he sent me for a mammogram and ultrasound which confirmed the mass was slightly smaller. Keep going!!!jayme

      2 comments

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