By Daniel Chukwuemeka Okwum Unclescan
Possible side effects of breast cancer therapy
Cancer discovered early enough would not kill anyone. This is because radical steps would have been taken to nip it in the bud, bringing it to its knees. But if due to its initial painless feature, it is ignored or unnoticed till it gets to higher lethal stages and spreads through the body, it would demand more radical steps to conquer and may eventually send its host to the grave. However, early detection wins the war easily.
- Every woman from 18 and above does self breast examination once a month.
- Every woman does a routine breast ultrasound scan once a year.
- That every woman from 35 and above does a mammography of both breasts once a year.
- Breast Lump
- Dimpling of the skin of the breast like the skin of an orange
- Unusual breast discharge
Possible treatment options
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy
Surgery
This is the surgical removal of a breast lump or mass, whether benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). During this surgery, the quantity of breast tissues removed is proportional to the size of the tumor, shape of the tumor, location of the tumor and the stage of the tumor.
Radiotherapy
This involves the use of electromagnetic radiations in the destruction of cancer cells in the affected part of the breast. In radiotherapy, doses or regimen of x-ray or any other form of radiation being administered is carefully calculated and shared for a period of time during which the treatment plan would last.
Chemotherapy
This involves the use of doses of anti-cancer medications to destroy cancer cells.
Hormone therapy
This treatment is targeted at controlling hormones like estrogen and progesterone which may be responsible for some cancer tumors. However, cancers which were not stimulated by hormones are not affected by hormone therapy.
Targeted therapy
This involves the use of certain drugs that change the mode of operation of certain cells in the body thereby stopping the progress of cancer.
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| An ultrasound image showing a non-cancerous lump in the left breast |
- Hair losses
- Body weakness
- Sores in the mouth
- Psychological depression
- Feeling of being sick
- Skin burn or rash
- Infection etc.
Cancer is not a joke
As a matter of fact, breast cancer is not a joke because of its lethal tendency. In the light of the above, I advocate monthly breast examination, breast ultrasound scan and possibly, mammography should be carried out annually, and any lump noted in the breast should be further evaluated through biopsy to ensure it is not malignant. If this principle can be adhered to, breast cancer and other cancers would soon be brought to their knees in full obeisance, so our precious women can live their lives with their families to the fullest.
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