1. Remove the Lump
The oldest and most common treatment for breast cancer is surgery. There are three types of breast-cancer surgery that depend on the stage of your cancer. The lumpectomy is when a surgeon only removes the tumor and surrounding tissue. A total mastectomy is when a surgeon removes the whole breast but leaves the muscles and axillary lymph nodes. Then there is the modified radical mastectomy, where a surgeon removes the breast and part of the axillary lymph nodes that are in the armpit.
2. Common Treatments for Cancer
Your doctor may suggest radiation or chemotherapy treatments in addition to or as an alternative to surgery for your breast cancer. Radiation targets the area where the tumor is and chemotherapy is more invasive and has major side effects. Your doctor will base your treatments on the stage of your breast cancer. Radiation and chemotherapy are common treatments; however, they don't come without risks and major side effects, such as hair loss, stomach upset, extreme fatigue, anemia and vulnerability to infection.
3. Hormone Therapy is an Option
Hormone therapy may be an option as treatment for your breast cancer. Your doctor can see if your cancer cells respond to estrogen. If they are estrogen receptor positive, your doctor can give you an estrogen-blocking medication. Sometimes, when a woman is older than 50, the estrogen-blocking medication also helps if the cancer is estrogen receptor negative.
4. Take on the Mind, Body and Soul
Research indicates that treating the entire body, mind and soul is a good approach to battling breast cancer. Changing the way you eat is a supportive way to encourage your body to fight your breast cancer. Experts say the micronutrients and electrolytes in marine phytoplankton can nourish your body's cells, which supports a healthy immune system. Spiritual and emotional support also helps your body's immune system kick in to help fight off the invasion of cancer cells.
5. Give Me a Complement
Naturopathic medicine is a holistic approach to cancer treatments. The body is chemically compatible with botanical medicines which have fewer side effects and work naturally to help heal the body. Chinese medicine offers herbal treatments, acupuncture and unifying the body and the mind. Homeopathic medicine, such as using plant extracts and minerals, may stimulate the body's ability to heal. It also complements more traditional breast cancer treatments.
