Do you know that at least one million women in the world are affected by breast cancer? It is considered as the 2nd leading cause of deaths in women as the 1st cause is heart disease. Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer affecting women in Malaysia besides cervical and colorectal cancer. It is estimated that 1 in 19 women are at risk for breast cancer and unfortunately about 9 individuals die from breast cancer every day. Treatment for breast cancer may not be easy for those diagnosed with one but early detection provides a high chance of successful treatment and better outcomes. There are many drugs used to treat breast cancer such as Femara 2.5 mg. In this article, we will be learning more about breast cancer and common drugs used to treat this disease.
Knowing how a normal breast looks and feels is important in determining breast health. No breast is typical. What is normal to a person may not be the same to other women. Most women feel their breasts are uneven or lumpy. Hormone changes such as period and bearing child or taking medication may actually lead to changes how the breast looks and feels. The best way to know if the breast is normal or not is by doing a regular breast self-exam. This is why it is necessary to know what is normal for you so that you can quickly notice potential problems. Having regular screening tests for breast cancer is important and can help detect early signs of possible breast cancer.
Most common symptoms of breast cancer are a new lump or mass. The mass usually is painless and hard with irregular edges but at times it can also be soft, round, tender and painful. Other symptoms include swelling part or all of the breast, skin dimpling that looks like an orange peel, breast or nipple pain, nipple turning inwards or known as nipple retraction, nipple or breast skin with red, dry or thickened, nipple discharge apart from breast milk and swollen lymph nodes under the arm on close to the collar bone. Symptoms of breast cancer may actually resemble other conditions affecting the breast such as fibroadenomas of breast cyst. It is best to get checked by a doctor whenever you spot such symptoms.
Treatment for breast cancer depends on the stage and if it already travels to other parts of the body (metastasis). It also depends on a person’s health level and if they are already on menopause. In general, surgery is the first treatment a person would get. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy usually is done after surgery. At times, a person may even receive hormones or targeted treatments to help eliminate breast cancer. A person may receive one or more of these treatments or even combinations of treatments.
There are many drugs used to treat breast cancer. Drugs may be combined to enhance therapeutic effect. Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells which in nature grow and divide quickly. Most chemotherapy is given into the vein as an injection or as infusion. Hormone treatment helps to lower the level of hormones that typically stimulates the growth of the cancerous cells. Hormone therapy usually needs to be taken for 5 years or more after a surgery and only works in breast cancer that is sensitive to hormones. Targeted therapy or immunotherapy works by changing the way cells work and help to stop cancer from growing. This therapy may be given as drip into the vein or as oral medicines. Here are some of the most common drugs used for breast cancer:
- Drugs in chemotherapy for early-stage cancer: 5-fluorouracil (5FU), capecitabine, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, docetaxel, doxorubicin, epirubicin, methotrexate, paclitaxel
- Drugs in chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer that has spread: paclitaxel, docetaxel, ixabepilone, eribulin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, cisplatin, carboplatin, vinorelbine, gemcitabine, capecitabine
- Drugs in hormone therapy: anastrozole, exemestane, letrozole, tamoxifen
- Drugs in targeted or immunotherapy drugs: abemaciclib, neratinib, pembrolizumab, pertuzumab, trastuzumab
When dealing with drugs for medication purposes, there will always be potential side effects that come along. However, it is worth noting that doctors will prescribe the best medication available that gives the most benefits that outweighs disadvantages. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, hair loss, mouth sores, diarrhoea and bleeding usually happen following treatment. Long-term side effects such as dental issues, bone health problems, early menopause, joint and muscle pain, weight gain, insomnia, weight gain and sexuality issues may occur months or years after treatment ends. Side effects should be addressed to healthcare providers as they can provide medical support to help ease the symptoms.
In essence, breast cancer is a highly treatable disease when it is in its early stage. The affordable and easy way to detect early breast cancer is by learning breast self-exam. Many treatment options available now help patients with breast cancer to survive for at least 1 year more after initial diagnosis. In fact, 85% of women will survive for 5 years or more after diagnosis. Treatments do not only include medicine and surgery but also emotional support given by healthcare professionals or people around them. It is true that living with breast cancer can be tragic but this is not the end and patients with breast cancer may actually live happily just as other healthy people do.