Rules for living with breast cancer
In breast cancer, women who undergo surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormonal treatments in the early stages and say hello to life once again. So, what should they pay attention to in their future lives? Anadolu Health Center Oncology Specialists explain…
A woman diagnosed with early breast cancer literally starts a new life after successfully going through the treatment process. During this period, it is important to go for routine check-ups as often as recommended by the doctor, not to skip screenings, maintain the ideal weight, not gain weight and be physically active. As more and more women take this warning into consideration and have routine check-ups, the opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer increases. However, little attention is paid to what the future holds for women receiving treatment.
Regular monitoring should be done
As is the case for every woman, women receiving breast cancer treatment should be kept under regular control. It is vital for a woman receiving breast cancer treatment to have follow-up examinations and necessary examinations at 3-6 month intervals in the first years, and at least once a year thereafter. The first of these checks is the doctor’s manual examination of the patient and a mammogram. Especially in high-risk patients, abdominal ultrasonography to be performed every six months or once a year provides information about both the liver and female reproductive organs, allowing the recurrence of the disease and the formation of other tumors to be noticed.
Attention should be paid to the side effects of medications
As part of breast cancer treatment, patients may need to use medications for many years. For example, if a hormone-sensitive breast cancer is treated, some medications are used to reduce the effect of hormones or injections that stop menstruation in young women. It is important to inform women who have not had their uterus and ovaries removed and who are using medication containing the active ingredient tamoxifen, that this medication may cause uterine cancer, although very rarely. For this reason, a gynecological examination should also be performed during the annual follow-up of the patient. Because if the changes in the uterus are detected at an early stage and the necessary precautions are taken, the risk of cancer in these organs can be completely eliminated. Again, some vascular problems may rarely occur in patients taking tamoxifen, and varicose vein formation may increase.
Considering that the group of drugs called “aromatase inhibitors”, which are mostly used in post-menopausal patients in hormonal therapy, may cause a decrease in bone density in women, precautions should be taken and investigations should be carried out. Another important point is that women undergoing breast cancer treatment should take calcium and vitamin D supplements like every healthy woman.
Exercising for 40 minutes at least 2-3 days a week has a positive impact on the patient’s life. Patients are advised to do whatever physical activity they can, or at least go for a walk. This is important for them to feel healthier and better, and for weight control.
The biggest enemy of breast cancer is weight! For this reason, patients are warned not to gain weight. Weight control is achieved through diet and physical exercise appropriate to the patient’s condition.
How is fertility affected?
During breast cancer treatment in young women, drugs or injections that prevent menstruation are used. It is not possible to become pregnant while using these medications. If a woman who will use tamoxifen becomes pregnant, the pregnancy may need to be terminated. In hormone-insensitive patients, it is possible to become pregnant after the effects of chemotherapy wear off. After the risky periods have passed, pregnancy can be achieved if desired. However, even if a woman wants to become pregnant, her fertility may decrease due to the effect of the treatment. Therefore, it is of great importance to inform young women who will undergo chemotherapy and especially those who have never given birth before, about these risks before starting treatment. By working with a gynecologist and obstetrician, fertility can be maintained with some measures such as freezing the ovaries or embryos.
