Chemotherapyis used as a treatment for most people who have metastatic breast cancer.
Whether it is used first-line or not depends on your receptor status, previous treatments, and other factors.
How It Works
Chemotherapy works by attacking rapidly growing cells such ascancer cells.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Used in this way, chemotherapy is referred to as adjuvant therapy.
You might have chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer to decrease the size of a tumor before surgery.
Chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer, however, is used with different goals.
Verywell / JR Bee
Why Isnt a Cure the Goal?
It is not that healthcare providers dont want to attempt to cure advanced breast cancer with chemotherapy.
This is true even if you are treated with extremely high doses of several powerful drugs.
Still, its important to understand what chemotherapy can and cant do with the drugs we currently have.
If you are still hoping for a cure, talk to your healthcare provider.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Its not uncommon for someone to have multiple chemotherapy regimens to treat their cancer.
Chemotherapy tends to become less effective over time as more regimens are needed.
This is because of a specialized membrane of capillaries known as the blood-brain barrier.
Hair Loss
Hair loss is common with many chemotherapy drugs.You might consider getting a wig.
Insurance often covers a portion of this, and several organizations provide free wigs from donated hair.
Scarves and hats are also an option and might be more comfortable for you.
In recent years, researchers have looked at methods of preventing hair loss.
Some prescribed medications can prevent nausea, and others can be used to treat nausea.
confirm to talk to your healthcare provider if you experiencenausea.
You may hear people talk about acupressure bands, ginger, and other alternative therapies for chemotherapy-induced nausea.
Anemia can contribute to your fatigue.A low platelet count may increase your risk of bleeding.
These infections can usually be treated, and prompt treatment can make a big difference.
Your healthcare provider will talk to you about methods of reducing infection.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Some chemotherapy drugs can cause peripheral neuropathy.
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Cancer of the Breast.
