Breast cancer- During and After Treatment
A
breast cancer diagnosis can significantly alter a person's life. People with
breast cancer must contend with physical and psychological changes during and
after treatment, including fatigue, nausea, stress, menopausal symptoms (in
females), sexual side effects, and negative body image. Monitoring for cancer
recurrence is another worrying but essential aspect of post-treatment care.
The
following information can help you cope with breast cancer both during
treatment and in the weeks, months, and years that follow.
Throughout
Treatment
Regardless
of the method of treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy,
targeted therapy, or immunotherapy), breast cancer treatment has a large
variety of side effects, which nearly invariably include fatigue and nausea.
Fatigue
The
most frequent adverse reaction to cancer treatment is this. Cancer-related
fatigue is different from typical fatigue in that it impacts everyday
activities and does not go away with rest or relaxation. Even when the
treatment is over, it may last for a while.
Inform
your healthcare practitioner if you're feeling worn out while receiving
treatment for breast cancer. To rule out underlying causes like anaemia, which
can be made worse by cancer or cancer treatments, your doctor may run testing.
Doctors
might also advise dietary changes, changes in how you manage your pain, and
strategies for getting more restful sleep. And even though it may seem
paradoxical to exercise, studies have shown that three to five hours per week
of moderate physical activity helps lessen the effects of weariness caused by
cancer.
Nausea
This
is yet another frequent adverse effect of breast cancer treatment, particularly
when chemotherapy is used. It is crucial that you consult your doctor about how
to treat your nausea since it can cause vomiting, which can cause malnutrition
and dehydration.
Antiemetics
are a class of drugs that treat nausea and are commonly prescribed by doctors.
Some patients might also want to inquire about medical cannabis, which may help
with nausea relief and appetite stimulation. Some people may also get
relief from ginger tea, chews, or lozenges.
Results
on Mental Health
Treatment
for breast cancer is mentally taxing, in addition, to physically taxing. Both
men and women with breast cancer commonly experience stress, anxiety, and
depression. You can be concerned about the cost of treatment, doubt the
efficacy of your therapy, or feel alone because of a lack of social support.
Therefore, while it's crucial to look after your physical needs and manage any
side effects from therapy, don't overlook the importance of your mental
healthcare.
Many
breast cancer patients find support through therapy (seek out a therapist who
specialises in cancer or chronic illness), mental health drugs, breast cancer
support groups, writing or journaling, creating art, light exercise if you're
able, and meditation or other mindfulness techniques. Contact your care team
right away if you're considering self-harm or are feeling helpless.
After
Treatment
After
their treatment is through, breast cancer patients need to be monitored for
recurrence. In addition, negative effects from treatment might remain or
develop new ones, known as late side effects, months or even years after
treatment.
Follow-up
Care and Recurrence Monitoring
Standard
screenings and methods are advised by the American Society of Clinical Oncology
(ASCO) to check for the return of breast cancer.
Men
ASCO
advises men who have undergone a lumpectomy to remove breast cancer to get
yearly mammography in the breast that was removed. Annual mammography in the
opposing (non-treated) breast is recommended for men who have a history of
breast cancer and genetic mutations that enhance their chance of developing the
disease.
Women
Women
are advised to have a physical examination every three to six months for three
years after treatment is finished, then every six to twelve months for the
following two years, and then once a year after that.
Your
doctor will examine your breasts or chest (depending on whether you had a
mastectomy), chest wall, and underarms during this examination. Additionally,
your doctor should undertake a gynaecologic exam, look for any lung abnormalities,
abdominal pain or tenderness, heart changes, neurological changes, and assess
the density and sensitivity of your bones. Patients with breast cancer who
received tamoxifen treatment should have a gynaecologic examination in
particular because this hormone therapy raises the risk of endometrial cancer.
A
mammogram comes next. Women normally undergo a diagnostic mammography every
year for three to five years following breast cancer treatment; after that,
they can typically convert to screening mammograms. Mammography may not be
advised if you've had a mastectomy; instead, your doctor may rely on a physical
examination and may suggest MRI.
After
breast cancer treatment, X-rays, CT scans, and PET scans are not routinely
performed on patients who are asymptomatic. However, these tests might be
advised for individuals who are experiencing symptoms or if routine follow-up
methods point to a cancer return.
Early
Menopause
Following
breast cancer therapy, menopausal symptoms are frequent and might include hot
flashes, night sweats, dry mouth, insomnia, mood swings, incontinence, and
osteoporosis.
It's
crucial to consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms
following breast cancer therapy.
After
breast cancer treatment, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is typically not
advised for early menopause or menopausal symptoms since it raises the risk of
recurrence. Doctors advise complementary therapy and a change in lifestyle
instead.
Even
though they have their own set of negative effects, antidepressants such as
SSRIs and SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) are
occasionally used to assist lessen hot flashes. ¹¹ Importantly, menopausal
symptoms that develop after treatment frequently go away on their own with time.
Side
Effects Sexual
Women
may encounter physical and emotional sexual side effects following breast
cancer treatment. These could consist of:
· Loss
of desire or libido
· Virility
dryness
· Pain
during sexual activity
· Shifts
in one's self-esteem
Due
to humiliation, shame, a lack of knowledge about available resources or
understanding, many people suffer in silence. They could believe that
discussing their sexual health with their doctors is "frivolous" or a
waste of their time. (It is neither; a person's sexual health and quality of
life after breast cancer are intimately related.) The environment that
healthcare providers create for these crucial dialogues also needs to be
improved.
Your
doctor will be able to suggest therapies like vaginal moisturisers or
lubricants and vaginal dilators for physical side effects like dryness and
pain.
Pelvic
floor treatment, a type of physical therapy that targets the muscles supporting
your urinary and reproductive functions, may be suggested by your doctor.
The
treatment of emotional side effects is just as crucial as the treatment of
physical ones. After treatment, patients with breast cancer may benefit from
behavioural interventions such as therapy, support groups, and in-person or
online sexual health programmes. With the use of these tools, patients can
learn about their "new" bodies, learn how to connect with others,
rediscover what feels good, lessen their fear and distress during sex, and
boost their self-esteem.
Although
there is less information on how males fare following breast cancer therapy,
they may also encounter side effects. For instance, tamoxifen, an
oestrogen-receptor blocker, may cause hot flashes and sexual dysfunction.
Discuss your treatment options with your healthcare physician if you have any
of these symptoms or others.
Sense
of self
Breast
cancer, particularly in women who have had mastectomies, can have a severe
effect on body image (breast removal surgery). Following a mastectomy, some
women report having unfavourable feelings about the way the scars look, feeling
less attractive than they did before the procedure, incomplete, less feminine,
or less appealing to men.
The
intensity of these emotions might vary depending on a person's culture, support
network, self-perception prior to surgery, the attitude of their partner, and
social pressures or expectations. Making the choice to have breast
reconstruction surgery, wear a prosthesis or padding, or "go flat" is
a very personal and stressful option for women who have undergone mastectomy
(mastectomy without reconstruction or prosthesis).
After
a mastectomy, it's common to struggle with conflicting emotions, which is why
speaking with others who have also undergone the procedure can be so
beneficial. The value of having a support network that comprehends your
situation cannot be overstated. Mastectomy sufferers can be guided by a skilled
therapist as they separate their personal thoughts and feelings from those of
society.
Discovering
new ways to connect with your body can also be affirming. Examples include
moving your body in a mirror without judgement, painting or taking a picture of
a self-portrait, swimming, running, yoga, walking, and meditation. Perhaps most
importantly, mastectomy patients should be gentle and compassionate to
themselves as they adjust to their changed bodies.
Recap
The
worst side effects of breast cancer treatment are fatigue, nausea, and stress.
Even after treatment is finished, both men and women may endure a variety of
side effects and may require additional tests and procedures to check for the
recurrence of breast cancer. Fortunately, there are a variety of resources
available to assist with the physical and psychological side effects of breast
cancer both during and after treatment.