Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment
The Impact of Breast Cancer Treatment on Your Long-Term Health
Breast cancer side effects are symptoms or ailments that develop due to the treatments used or as a result of the disease itself.
. Long-term side effects begin during treatment and continue after all treatment is stopped.
. Late side effects are symptoms that may appear weeks, months or years after treatment ends.
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These long-term and late side effects may include:
. Fatigue
. Headaches
. Pain and numbness (peripheral neuropathy)
. Dental issues
. Lymphedema
. Musculoskeletal symptoms
. Bone loss and osteoporosis
. Heart problems
. New cancers
. Blood clots
. Absence of menstrual periods
. Menopausal symptoms
. Sexual difficulties
. Concerns about memory loss and cognitive function (“chemo brain”)
10 common questions about Side Effects Of Breast Cancer Treatment
1What is the best treatment for breast cancer?
The most common treatments for breast cancer are:
Surgery. For most people, the first step is to take out the tumor. An operation called lumpectomy removes only the part of your breast that has cancer. ...
Radiation. This treatment uses high-energy waves to kill cancer cells.
2What are the long term effects of radiation for breast cancer?
Long-term side effects can include: Breast changes: The breasts may shrink or become more dense after radiation. Some women have reported problems breastfeeding. Brachial plexopathy: Radiation to the breast or chest wall can sometimes damage the nerves that run through the arm, wrist, and hand
3Does radiation on left breast affect the heart?
Still, studies have found a link between radiation therapy for breast cancer and a higher risk of heart and lung problems, especially if the cancer is in the left breast, the same side as the heart. ... But cancer cells are more affected by radiation than normal cells because they're less organized.
4What form of breast cancer is the deadliest?
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), sometimes called infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is the most common type of breast cancer. About 80% of all breast cancers are invasive ductal carcinomas.
5Can chemo weaken the heart?
Chemo can also lower your white blood cell count (neutropenia). ... Finally, some chemo drugs can damage the heart by weakening your heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) or disturb your heart rhythm (arrhythmia). These conditions can affect your heart's ability to pump blood effectively.
6Does breast cancer affect your heart?
While it is well-recognized that many breast cancer patients receiving treatment experience some damage to the heart, it was not necessarily severe enough to cause hospitalization or death. ... The older the patient, the greater the risk of dying from cardiovascular causes
7What does radiation do to breasts?
Radiation therapy for breast cancer uses high-energy X-rays, protons or other particles to kill cancer cells. Rapidly growing cells, such as cancer cells, are more susceptible to the effects of radiation therapy than are normal cells. The X-rays or particles are painless and invisible.
8Do the side effects of chemo get worse with each treatment?
Q: Do chemo side effects get worse with each treatment? A: Some people undergoing chemotherapy report that they feel more fatigue the further along they get in their regimen. Nerve damage can occur with chemotherapy, and this may get worse with each dose. Sometimes, treatment has to be stopped because of this.
9Can cancer spread while on chemo?
They found the number of blood vessel 'doorways' that allow cancer to spread throughout the body was increased in 20 patients receiving two common chemotherapy drugs. ... Most are diagnosed at an early stage, but the cancer has spread in around 6 to 7 per cent of cases, according to Cancer Research UK
10Can you die from stage 2 breast cancer?
According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate for stage 2 breast cancer is 93% for women who have completed treatment.