Track 24: Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects:-
Introduction:-
- Breast cancer side effects are symptoms or illnesses that emerge as a result of the disease itself, the medicines used to treat it, or both.
- Long-term adverse effects start during therapy and persist long after it has ended.
- Symptoms known as late side effects may manifest weeks, months, or even years following the completion of therapy.
- Your Long-Term Health and the Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment
The side effects of breast cancer therapy in the long term. A connection with a primary care physician who is educated about these consequences on breast cancer survivors and their long-term health care is encouraged, according to Antonio Wolff, M.D., a medical oncologist at the Johns Hopkins Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
These late and persistent adverse effects might consist of:-
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Anxiety and discomfort (peripheral neuropathy)
- Tooth problems
- Lymphedema
- Muscle and skeletal problems
- Osteoporosis and bone loss
- Heart conditions
- A new cancer
- Cataracts
- Bleeding clots
- Menstrual periods are not present.
- Menopausal signs
- Problems with sexuality
- Infertility
- Anxiety around memory loss and cognitive abilities (“chemo brain”)
- Breast cancer treatment’s long-term effects
In a primary care context, it is important to manage the aftereffects of breast cancer treatment. Menopause symptoms and bone health are two topics covered. by Kimberly Peairs, M.D., a specialist in internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Surgery Center in Green Spring Station, Baltimore, Maryland.
The goal of nonsurgical breast cancer therapies is to kill cancerous cells. Among these remedies are:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- The use of hormones
- Immunotherapies (sometimes called biological therapies)
Targeted treatments
The majority of these therapies, however, don’t merely target cancer cells. They have the ability to alter your mood and healthy cells as well. There might be several negative side effects from this, such as:
- Appetite loss
- Vomiting and nauseous
- Weakness and exhaustion
- Mouth ulcers
- Losing hair
- Adding pounds
- Earliest menopause
- Increased chance of infection
- Bleeding
- Diarrhea
Many of these adverse effects can be lessened with the use of medications and other treatments that deal with them.
Appetite Loss
You may feel less hungry and experience loss of appetite or taste as a result of radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, some hormone treatments, and even some pain relievers, which can make it challenging to consume the necessary nutrients. To ensure that your food is healthy, follow these recommendations:
- Eat several modest meals throughout the day as opposed to three large ones.
- Consider consuming a “quick breakfast” mix or other dietary shakes in between meals.
- When you are the hungriest of the day, eat your largest meal.
- To avoid being too full from meals, drink water or other liquids 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after eating.
- As long as your doctor gives the go-ahead, try light exercise to enhance your appetite.
Vomiting and Nausea
Some patients may have nausea and occasionally vomiting after receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted treatment, or immunotherapy. Localized radiation for breast cancer, however, has a lower risk of making people throw up. Following therapy or a few days later, it may occur. Inquire with your doctor about medicines that can help you feel better. Likewise, note when you feel sick. If you look for trends, you might be able to anticipate issues before they arise. Also:
- Eat smaller meals more frequently and stay away from citrus and fatty foods.
- As opposed to very hot or cold, try items at room temperature.
- Try bland meals when you’re feeling queasy, such as crackers, gelatin, ice chips, rice, unflavored mashed potatoes, or applesauce.
- If you’re experiencing severe nausea or frequent vomiting, contact your doctor right once. Wait an hour before consuming food or liquids if you vomit. Next, start with ice chips and then gradually introduce other items. Your stomach may occasionally feel better after consuming chamomile, ginger root tea, or ginger ale.
Weakness and exhaustion
Weakness occurs when your strength is lower than it once was or lower than it must be for routine everyday duties. Weakness could be brought on by chemotherapy, hormone treatments, some targeted therapies, and a few painkillers.
Fatigue occurs when you lack the energy to complete tasks or experience constant fatigue while having no apparent cause. Fatigue can also be brought on by hormonal, immunological, hormonal, targeted, and chemotherapy treatments.
A sore mouth
Your throat and mouth may hurt with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and some targeted treatments. Even sores, or “ulcers,” that are sometimes red and inflamed, might be seen. It is known as mucositis.
Losing hair
Radiation, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, and chemotherapy are breast cancer therapies that could result in hair loss.
During cancer therapy, not everyone will experience hair loss. Both the type of therapy and the dose play a role. If you may anticipate hair loss, ask your doctor. Contact them. Being prepared is helpful.
The most frequent reason for hair loss is chemotherapy.
Some women will notice their hair is getting thinner, while others will entirely lose it—including their eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic hair, arm, and leg hair. A few weeks after beginning therapy, it may come unexpectedly sometimes, or it may happen more gradually.
In the front or centre of the head, generally as a result of hormone therapy, you can have some hair thinning or loss. Although hormone therapy reduce oestrogen levels, they are nevertheless thought to cause hair loss for unknown reasons. Hormone treatment typically causes hair loss that doesn’t show up for 6 to 2 years. Although it could go away after a year or so, thinning frequently persists for the duration of your pharmaceutical use.
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Subtopics of Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects:-
- How does breast cancer treatment make you feel?
- What are the long-term side effects of radiation treatment for breast cancer?
- Can breast cancer cause side effects?
- What is the most common complication following the treatment of breast cancer?
- Possible Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment
- Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
- Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
- Breast Cancer Treatment Causes Severe Side Effects
- Chemotherapy for breast cancer – Mayo Clinic
- What are the Side Effects of Surgery for Breast Cancer?
- long-term side effects of breast cancer treatment
Track 24: Breast Cancer Treatment Side Effects:-
After you stop using the drug, the symptoms disappear a few months later.
- Targeted therapy: Some patients may experience hair loss after taking certain drugs, such as palbociclib (Ibrance), pertuzumab (Perjeta), and ribociclib (Kisqali). When you stop taking these meds, you’ll notice it straight immediately, but it will take some time before your hair starts to grow back.
- Immunotherapy: In extremely rare circumstances, immunotherapy may also result in hair loss in certain patients.
- Radiation: Radiation only results in hair loss in the area of the body that it affects. If there is hair there, it may be the nipple. However, if your breast cancer has progressed to your head’s interior, such as the brain, it might potentially be the head.