Breast cancer unfortunately affects millions of women around the globe. It originates in the breast tissue; with different stages and aggressiveness for each woman. In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S.,
About 20-30% of breast cancer cases are genetically inherited. A woman’s risk of getting breast cancer is doubled if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
In most cases, breast cancers are found when they are already spread beyond the breast, making it difficult to treat. It is why detecting them early so important to save lives.
Breast cancer treatment involves treatment of the primary tumor with surgery, radiation therapy, or both, as well as systemic breast cancer treatment with chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biologic therapy, or any combination thereof.
Chemotherapy is common in breast cancer treatment but it is not without side effects. Some physical side effects have been reported including: nausea, hair loss, pain, weight loss or weight gain, and fatigue. As chemotherapy cycles progress, these side effects become increasingly severe and often difficult to bear during breast cancer treatment. It may also jeopardize immunity, as it lowers white blood cell counts.
Instead of having chemotherapy, some patients whose cancers are estrogen-receptor positive are taking hormonal therapy for her breast cancer treatment, such as: tamoxifen, femara, etc. Hormonal therapy is given to block the body's naturally occurring estrogen and fight the cancer's growth.
However some researches found that women with breast cancer who carry the gene variant CYP2D6* or having too much gene of FGFR1** do not respond well to Tamoxifen breast cancer treatment.
Below are some tips for your breast cancer treatment:
Take herbs or natural supplements to boost your immune system
Maintain a healthy diet
Stay away from tobacco smokes, exhaust fumes or gas station
Avoid microwave radiation, i.e : from cellphone, etc
Avoid exposure to common pesticides (during gardening)