Women diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer have several treatment options available.
If you have been diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer, you will be happy to know that there are many treatment options available to you today. Stage III breast cancer is diagnosed when a tumor greater than 5 cm is found in the breast, or a tumor less than 5 cm is found in either the breast and lymph nodes surrounding the breast tissue or in the lymph nodes or surrounding tissue, with no breast tumor. When a tumor of any size is found present in at least 10 lymph nodes in or near the breast, neck or under the collarbone, the diagnosis is considered to be Stage III.
Instructions
Mastectomy
1. Remove the affected tissue. Depending on the size and location of your tumor, your physician may recommend a modified radical mastectomy. You may opt to remove all or part of your breast, nearby lymph nodes and the surrounding tissue if your cancer appears to be aggressive and in danger of spreading to healthy parts of your body. This is the most widely accepted method of dealing with Stage III breast cancer.
2. Follow up a modified radical mastectomy with radiation treatments if your doctor feels that it is advisable. By receiving radiotherapy treatments after your mastectomy, you will destroy cancer cells that may have been left inside the body and reduce your risk of recurring breast cancer by 70 percent, according to Marisa Weiss M.D., director of breast radiation oncology and director of breast health outreach, Lankenau Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA and President and Founder of Breastcancer.org. Radiation therapy treatments are generally well-tolerated and have few side effects.
3. Ask your doctor if you would benefit from chemotherapy treatments in addition to your radiation therapy. Unlike radiation therapy, which is highly targeted to destroy only cancerous cells, chemotherapy is systemic, meaning that it is administered throughout the bloodstream and will affect all parts of your body. The side effects of chemotherapy treatments may be severe and include nausea, hair and bone loss, leukemia, heart palpitations and nerve damage, but most of the effects of chemotherapy are temporary and will fade in time after the treatments have ended. If you opt for chemotherapy treatments before and after your mastectomy surgery, your chances of remaining cancer-free for years or indefinitely may be increased, depending on the type of chemotherapy treatments you choose. There are several different drug combinations used in chemotherapy treatments, each with its own risks and benefits. Discuss with your oncologist which combination of chemotherapy drugs will be the most tolerable for you and provide you with the best chance at eradicating the cancer cells in your body.
4. If your Stage III breast cancer is diagnosed as being hormone-receptor positive, ask your oncologist about hormone therapy. When cancer cells are hormone-receptor positive, they contain estrogen or progesterone receptors, making it likely that these cancers will respond to anti-estrogen therapy. By removing the hormones that the breast cancer cells thrive on, you effectively starve the cells out of existence. Ask your doctor if hormone therapy might be effective for you.
After Surgery
5. Ask your oncologist for a referral to a psychotherapist or counselor if you are having psychological or emotional difficulty before or after your mastectomy. You may wish to join a support group in your community or speak to other breast cancer survivors who have had similar procedures and can offer advice and support.
6. After your breasts have healed from the surgery, and when your drainage tubes have been removed, start a light exercise program to help you increase your energy level and provide your skin with extra blood flow so that it heals faster. Rebuild your stamina slowly with exercises that do not strain your muscles or exhaust your supply of energy. Take walks, swim in a pool, take a beginner yoga or stretch class.
7. Get a mammogram and physical yearly after undergoing a mastectomy. Perform self-checks on a regular basis, and report any unusual findings to your physician. Also, notify your doctor if you notice any fever, redness, swelling, arm numbness or tingling, difficulty moving your shoulder muscles or the presence of hard knots or scarring under your skin.
8. If you feel uncomfortable with the way your breast appear after your surgery, ask your doctor about whether or not you would be a good candidate for breast reconstruction surgery. Consider the risks versus benefits of breast implants or reconstruction, and make an informed decision by consulting your psychologist, oncologist and a plastic surgeon before undergoing any procedure.
Tags: breast cancer, chemotherapy treatments, Stage breast, your doctor, cancer cells, lymph nodes
