Dealing with metastatic breast cancer is not an easy thing to do. Not only does it require getting put on various metastatic breast cancer treatments, but it also requires rounding up a support system. The latter is just as important as going through the treatment, as one cannot go through it alone.
There are three common metastatic breast cancer treatments. Keep reading for all the information you should know about them if you have been recently diagnosed.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatments
The treatment that an individual gets put on will depend on a few things, such as where the cancer is located, previous metastatic breast cancer treatments, and the individual’s demographic.
With that being said, here are the three most common metastatic breast cancer treatments. Note that they can be used alone or together.
1. Anti-HER2 Targeted Treatment:
If a breast cancer cell has too much of the HER2 protein, they will grow and spread at a rapid pace. By taking a medication that targets the HER2 protein, the growth of breast cancers that are HER2-positive will slow down.
2. Hormone Therapy
Anyone who has breast cancer fueled by either progesterone or estrogen should be put on hormone therapy medications. By starving the cancer cells, the tumours will reduce in size.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy will kill the cancer cells. It is an effective treatment, but one that comes with numerous side effects, such as hair loss and vomiting and/or nausea. It can also make an individual extremely tired. It is important to mention that chemotherapy occurs in cycles. This means that you will get treatment for a set period of time, then you have a cool down period. This is because your body will need to recover from the chemotherapy.
The Takeaway
Did any of these metastatic breast cancer treatments stand out to you? Remember, you have as much of a say in your treatment plan as your doctor.
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Posted on May 5, 2023