Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
Breast cancer treatments explained: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone and targeted therapy - plus what to avoid entirely.
Breast cancer treatment is specialist medicine - surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted drugs, chosen by your tumor's type and stage. Nothing over the counter or herbal treats the cancer itself.
Anti-nausea drugs, growth-factor injections for low counts, bone-protecting medicines for some, pain medicines - each with its own rules. Fever during chemotherapy (single reading of 38.3 C / 101 F or more) is a same-day call: with low immunity, infection moves fast.
Arm swelling on the operated side (lymphedema) is a known risk after armpit node removal: protect that arm from injections, BP cuffs, cuts and burns; report early swelling - physiotherapy works best started early.
Traditional rasayana herbs are comfort-layer candidates at best; evidence for benefit in breast cancer is not established, and anything ingested during active treatment must be disclosed. The safe rule: your oncologist knows every pill, powder and kadha you take.
Written By
Dr. Daksh
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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