Breast Cancer Treatment &
Side Effects with
Signs and Syptoms
In recent years, there's been an explosion of life-saving treatment advances against breast cancer, bringing new hope and excitement.
Instead of only one or two options, today there's an overwhelming menu of treatment choices that fight the complex mix of cells in each individual cancer. The decisions — surgery, then perhaps radiation, hormonal (anti-estrogen) therapy, and/or chemotherapy — can feel overwhelming.
Breastcancer.org can help you understand your cancer stage and appropriate options, so you and your doctors can arrive at the best treatment plan for YOU
.
In the following pages of the Treatment and Side Effects section, you can learn about:
Planning Your Treatment
What types of treatment are available, the most likely sequence of treatments, treatment options by cancer stage, and fitting treatment into your schedule.
Getting a
Second Opinion
Reasons for getting a second opinion about your treatment plan, how to go about getting one, and what to do once you’ve got it.
Surgery
Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), mastectomy, and lymph node dissection, and what to expect from each. Also included:
Prophylactic surgery and breast reconstruction.
Chemotherapy
How chemotherapy works, who should get it, different types and combinations, and side effects and how to manage them.
Radiation Therapy
How radiation therapy works, who it's for, advantages, side effects, and what to expect when you get it.
Hormonal
Therapy
The link between hormones and breast cancer and how different groups of drugs — including ERDs, SERMs, and aromatase inhibitors — can affect that link. Also covered:
Side effects of hormonal therapies.
Targeted Therapies
How they work, who should get them, how they're given, side effects, and major studies.
Complementary & Holistic
Medicine
How complementary medicine techniques such as acupuncture, meditation, and yoga could be a helpful addition to your regular medical treatment. Includes research on complementary techniques and ways to find qualified practitioners.
Drugs for Treatment and
Risk Reduction
A reference list of drugs used to treat and reduce the risk of breast cancer, including how they work, to whom they are typically given, and side effects.
Treatments for
Pain
Ways to treat cancer- and treatment-related pain, including types of medications and tips on talking to your doctors about pain.
Treatment Side Effects
A reference list of side effects and ways to manage them.
Lymphedema
All about lymphedema, including who is at risk, what to watch out for, how to reduce risk of lymphedema flare-ups, and how to find a lymphedema therapist.
Clinical Trials
What clinical trials are and how they work, why they're important, and how to find trials that may be appropriate for you.
Breast Cancer
Survival Rates in
Women statistics
There are many factors that affect the survival rate for breast cancer in women including
the way the cancer was detected, the stage and grade of the cancer and the type of
treatment.
The good news is that breast cancer survival rates are improving in the UK and have been
for the last 30 years. This is largely due to screening, earlier diagnosis and improved
treatments.
Breast Cancer Survival Rates for 1, 5 and 10 years
Cancer Research UK states that for women of all ages, with all stages of breast cancer and
co-morbidities (i.e. where they may have other existing illnesses that affect the
treatment offered) 95.8% will be expected to survive the disease for at least 1 year.
85% of women are expected to survive the disease for at least 5 years and 77% will survive
for at least 10 years.
It is important to note that whilst people often think that once the 5 year stage is
reached they are cured, it can be seen from the statistics that survival rates at 10 years
are lower than 5 indicating mortality still increases beyond 5 years.
Age factors affecting breast cancer survival rates
The age at diagnosis can have a significant effect on breast cancer survival rates.
Women in their 50’s and 60’ have better outcomes than younger women and women who are
older. This is due to the fact that younger women often present with faster growing
tumours. The latest
5 year survival rates for women of different ages in
England from
Cancer Research UK are:
- published: 28 Jun 2016
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