Chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer uses various drugs to kill dangerous cancer cells. The drugs are used to kill cancer cells in the breasts as well as other parts of the body where the cancer may have spread. Even though the chemotherapy, also referred to as chemo, may be used to target specific areas, the drugs do enter the body through the bloodstream and affect the whole person.
Features
Chemotherapy drugs are used following surgery to eradicate any cancer cells that may be lingering. Chemo used after surgery also reduces the risk of having the cancer return. At times, chemotherapy is used to lower the amount of cancer in the breast prior to surgery.
Considerations
Chemotherapy treatment is used to treat breast cancer at every stage and is tailored to an individual's specific needs, report doctors affiliated with the Breast Cancer website. Doctors take into consideration which stage the cancer has progressed to and the characteristics the cancer displays. A woman's menopausal status also is taken into consideration. Women who are pre-menopausal typically receive more aggressive chemo because the cancer has a tendency to grow faster in women with normal hormone production.
Types
Various types of chemotherapy drugs are used to treat breast cancer. Some typical combinations include adriamysin and taxotere or cytoxan, methotrexate and flourourcil. Other types of chemo combinations that are used include those that fall in the antibiotic family of drugs or taxanes that disrupt the process of cancer cell division.
Effects
While the chemotherapy drugs kill the cancer cells, they also affect healthy cells in the body, leading to a variety of side effects. Doctors at the American Cancer Society report that side effects typically are short-term and disappear once the chemo has been discontinued. The severity of the side effects depend on the type of drugs used, the length of time and how much of the drugs were administered. Common side effects include hair loss, an increased risk of infections, mouth sores, nausea and vomiting.
Warning
Chemotherapy can interrupt hormones in women and affect menstrual cycles or step up the onset of menopause. While chemo can cause infertility, women still are at risk of becoming pregnant while undergoing chemotherapy. Becoming pregnant while taking chemo drugs increases the risk of birth defects. The risks decline significantly in the final two trimesters of the pregnancy.
