Chemotherapy along with surgery is traditionally the most common form of treatment for breast cancer. However, recently, holistic treatments have become more popular. The reasons for this are many, but the usually, it is because the patient doesn’t want to endure chemotherapy or surgery, or feels there is a better way to combat the disease.

The Problem Of Traditional Breast Cancer Treatment

Modern medicine claims that if the cancer is caught early enough, breast cancer treatments like radiotherapy or chemotherapy can help the patient lead a long and active life. However, it has been proven that if chemotherapy is used too soon, it may actually shorten the life of the patient.

Another risk of modern medicine is using mammograms as an early diagnostic tool, rather than preventative. Mammograms will sometimes give false positives and leave some women enduring treatments, only to find out later they may never have had cancer at all.

When mistakes happen with traditional breast cancer treatments, harmful side effects may shorten, rather than prolong a patient’s life.

Getting Help By Alternate Therapies

Serious heath problems such as breast cancer are being treated more frequently by holistic medicine. Holistic therapies go beyond the traditional remedies that only treat mainly the body. Holistic medicine also treats the mind and spirit as well. It is important to note that, even though you may experience fewer side effects with holistic medicine, you don’t choose to forgo traditional medicine, but add holistic practices to it.

Also, it is important to remember that just as there are side effects of chemotherapies and other types of medical treatments, there are side effects to using holistic breast cancer treatments as well. However, there have been many studies done that show patience frequently live longer than what doctors had estimated they would.

Women fighting breast cancer may seek out holistic therapists to detoxify her body. The therapist would use Naturopathy to detect certain toxins in the body. After this, kinesiology is employed to check the body’s energy fields. After checking these two items, the therapist can put together a course of treatment that will revolve around natural remedies.

There are many types of detoxifying programs that may be used during breast cancer treatment. One is to cleanse the liver and involves black walnut, wormwood and cloves. There are also detoxifying programs for the mind to help patience achieve a better emotional state.

Holistic therapies help by ridding the body of deep-rooted toxins; also by treating your mind so you can better fight the disease of breast cancer. When a patient is first diagnosed with cancer, it can lead to fatigue and stress within the body and mind. Once you can focus on the treatment, your chances of beating cancer increase. It is important to keep mind body and spirit in good health.

Seeking breast cancer treatment from a holistic therapist is perfectly all right as long as you don’t forgo traditional breast cancer medicine. While holistic treatments may take away some of the symptoms traditional medicine have, it should not be a substitute for medical advice. Keeping your mind calm will help in receiving treatments.

Summary:

Holistic therapist shouldn’t be used in place of medical breast cancer treatment, but it can help treat your emotional needs that will make your overall state of being as well as helping with the side effects such as vomiting and nausea. Sometimes, holistic treatments will prolong a patience life, some times by years.

About the Author: Brooke Hayles
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Get Successful Breast Cancer Treatment By Including Complementary And Alternative Therapies

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This video about breast cancer. Inflammatory Breast Cancer News story from KOMO in Seattle.

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After breast cancer diagnosis, time is of the essence to ensure recovery. Digest the news; then start learning, so you’re comfortable with your informed choices for breast cancer treatment.

Building Your Team

Before choosing surgery, you build a breast cancer treatment team. You need surgeons, oncologists, anesthesiologist, and radiologist. If you’re able, you are the leader of this team. You have to live with the choices made.

Breast surgeon – recommends and performs breast surgery such as mastectomy or lumpectomy under general anesthesia, and a sentinel node biopsy.

Oncologist – also recommends which surgical option is best. Recommends chemotherapies and follows treatment.

Anesthesiologist – usually on hospital staff, unless you want to choose your own.

Radiologist – performs the sentinel node biopsy (where 2-3 lymph nodes in the armpit or breast are surgically removed) is also on hospital staff.

Plastic surgeon – performs reconstruction if you want it, during or well after mastectomy.

Radiation oncologist – manages radiation therapy. Wait till after surgery to find.

First Breast Cancer Treatment: Surgery

Lumpectomy – usually recommended when there is a single, small lump. The lump and the margin around it are surgically removed under general anesthesia.

* Advantage: You have a small scar, usually.

* Disadvantages: You undergo radiation therapy afterwards; because radiation can cause lumps, you may have more biopsies in the future.

Mastectomy – removes breast tissue, comprised mainly of fat, under general anesthesia. Surrounding tissues are undisturbed.

* Advantages: You need no further biopsies on that side; you probably avoid radiation therapy if cancer is detected early.

* Disadvantages: You have asymmetry, and this may temporarily affect sex life or self-image. With psychological adjustment or reconstruction, these disadvantages can disappear.

Breast reconstruction – during/after a mastectomy using techniques such as DIEP, where abdominal fat and skin are transferred to the chest, to shape a new breast. This is not cosmetic surgery; it’s part of treatment.

* Advantages: feeling and looking restored; getting a tummy tuck and a breast lift on the other breast.

Breast Cancer Treatment After Surgery

The oncologist considers the information from the various tests. The oncologist stages the cancer, and recommends various breast cancer treatments. The oncologist can refer you to a psychologist or support group to allay anxiety about treatment.

Radiation therapy – usually started after recovery from lumpectomy. It is precisely administered to the breast (and perhaps lymph nodes) in order to kill cancerous cells, while avoiding damage to the rest of the body. Sessions are a few minutes, once a day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks.

* Short-term side effects: fatigue, breast soreness, redness, swelling.

* Long-term side effects: breast shrinkage, tanning, lumpiness.

Chemotherapy – started after all radiation is complete. Drugs which kill or disable cancer cells are given cyclically, with time off between treatments, for 3 to 6 months. The chemotherapy visit usually is outpatient, lasting 1 to 6 hours. Some drugs are taken orally at home, sometimes as a permanent regime.

* Side effects: hair loss, nausea/vomiting, nerve or muscle pain, infection, weight gain, fatigue, difficulty sleeping.

Hormone Therapy – taken orally at home; both treats and prevents recurrence in some cases.

Exercise, diet and lifestyle changes help recovery significantly.

Survival After Therapy

With 2 million breast cancer survivors in America, breast cancer is beatable. Breast cancer treatment requires internal fortitude to reach recovery. You emerge with relief, gratitude and hope.

About the Author:For more information on breast cancer try visiting http://www.breastcanceranalysis.com – a website that specializes in providing breast cancer related information and resources including information on breast cancer treatment.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Breast Cancer Treatment Options: Facing Your Fears And Moving Ahead

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This is video about Inflammatory Breast Cancer Symptoms. NewsCenter 5′s Kelley Tuthill reports on inflammatory breast cancer.

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Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lifetime; incredibly, it is estimated that just over a million people throughout the world – women and men alike – will be diagnosed during this year alone. Just as incredibly, in this same year, nearly 43,000 people will die in the United States. The statistics are sobering; not just for their sheer volume but because it does not have to claim as many victims as it does. In many cases, it can be beaten. But fighting the battle means early detection and comprehensive treatment.

Breast cancer – the most common cancer among women – continues to be diagnosed on a daily basis as more and more people learn to read the signs and symptoms of this disease and seek early medical intervention. During this early intervention, doctors will work with each patient to determine the best possible treatment – as determined by the type and stage of the cancer as well as the overall physical health of the patient.

Technological advancements in treatment continue to bring new and exciting options to the table; but when you are suddenly thrust into the position of having to make a decision about treatment, the choices can seem overwhelming.

One choice is surgery, wherein the cancerous growth is removed from the breast – also know as a lumpectomy. In more severe cases – or as a preventative measure – a partial or total mastectomy, or removal of part, or all, of the breast, may be performed.

But aside from surgery, there are also many other choices including, chemotherapy – a frequent course of intravenous drugs used to stop the growth of the cancer; radiation – using pinpoint radiation therapy to kill cancer cells; and hormonal therapy to stop the growth of cancer cells. In many cases, however, breast cancer treatment utilizes a combination of many different therapies in order to achieve the greatest possibility for success.

In some cases, patients also choose to incorporate holistic therapies into their treatment. Such therapies may include diet, exercise, therapeutic massage, and acupuncture.

Early treatment is the key to ongoing health and survival – increasing a patient’s chance of recovery and five year survival rate by nearly 95%. With such dramatic statistics at hand, it’s no wonder that doctors aggressively promote any and all methods of early detection including self-examination, routine gynecological exams, mammograms, and breast ultrasound.

The most important thing to remember is that new treatments continue to be aggressively researched. And what has resulted are new and less invasive treatment options for patients. If breast cancer has affected you or someone in your life, it is important to stay educated on research findings.

The battle continues to be waged by women on a daily basis. As more and more women are incorporating self-examination and routine gynecological exams into their lives, the access to early breast cancer treatment grows exponentially. And as those who have been affected can attest, early diagnosis and treatment saves lives.

About the Author:For more information on breast cancer try visiting http://www.breastcanceranalysis.com – a website that specializes in providing breast cancer related information and resources including information on breast cancer treatment.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Waging a Battle With Breast Cancer Treatment

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