5 Essential Considerations Before Getting Breast Cancer Treatment



A breast cancer diagnosis can be a scary experience. Some people want to do everything to be cancer-free as fast as possible. However, it would be best to make well-informed decisions based on your doctor's advice regarding cancer treatment.

Treating breast cancer can impact your life: fertility, immune system, and lifestyle. Therefore, before you decide on your treatment, it is essential to understand what consequences abound your decisions before proceeding with a specific treatment.

Here are five essential considerations before being treated for breast cancer.

Future Family Plans

A cancer diagnosis is a classic hit for anyone diagnosed with it. You have to follow a strict treatment plan that will affect your physical and mental health.

Cancer treatment involves various medications and treatment options that can affect your fertility. So if you plan on having a baby anytime soon, you might want to consult your doctor on the right course of treatment.

Radiation therapy and chemo can take a toll on your physical health, affecting your reproductive organs. In addition, these treatment options will affect your fertility, so any plans of having a baby will undoubtedly be affected.

If you plan to have a child after you're done with treatments, clarify this with your healthcare specialist.


Previous Tests and Vaccinations

Chemotherapy will undoubtedly take a toll on your body, and your immune system will be compromised. Before getting any cancer treatment, ensure that you are vaccinated against various diseases like the flu or COVID to reduce the risk of acquiring infections or other illnesses.

Make sure you also undergo diagnostic testing like a pap test or a dental visit. This is to rule out any complications and reduce risk factors while undergoing cancer treatment.

Remember that getting treated for cancer can weaken your immune system. Thus, your body should be ready for any problems while being treated for breast cancer.


Available treatment options

There are many options available on how you can treat breast cancer. These are:

Your cancer doctor and a surgeon will determine whether you are qualified for surgery. Advanced stages may require more aggressive treatment to kill cancer cells so take your doctor’s advice on the course of medication they will put you in.

Cancer treatment will take a toll on your body, so you must be physically and mentally prepared for the treatment. However, there are other alternative treatment options that you can take, like chemotherapy and other medically advanced procedures.

Doctors will suggest different treatment plans for different types of breast cancer. You can ask about alternatives to surgery and radiation. There are newer medical procedures now available, like cryoablation or targeted therapy.


Effects of Each Treatment

Different types of treatments will have other effects on the body. So the results also differ for each person who gets treated for breast cancer.

For example, surgery for breast cancer may cause some pain and discomfort in the affected area. In addition, arm muscles may become weak, and you may feel some skin tightening in the breast area.

However, more aggressive treatments like radiation therapy can cause skin irritations and pain in the breast. The pain will begin within a few weeks of treatment and cease at least six months after treatment.

On the other hand, certain chemotherapy drugs may cause more manifest side effects like nausea, vomiting, nerve damage, fatigue, diarrhoea, sore mouth, decreased blood counts, and constipation.


Managing the Aftermath

You can manage the side effects of treatment with therapy. This is because it helps you maintain your stamina and strength. You must remain strong to withstand more treatments in the future.

Some examples of therapy include:

  • Nutrition therapy
  • Oncology rehabilitation
  • Pain management
  • Naturopathic support
Reconstructive surgeries are also available for you months after getting a mastectomy. For this, you will need to consult a plastic surgeon. Many women opt to get breast reconstruction after they become cancer-free.


Conclusion

Breast cancer treatment is not a decision that you should take lightly. Before making any choices, make sure to consult a breast specialist doctor in Singapore so that they can give you available options for treatment.