Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can be used to treat various cancers including metastatic breast cancer. In chemotherapy, drugs or chemicals is used which eradicates cancer cells and stops growth of cancer. Chemotherapy is also useful in destroying cancer cell including those that have spread to the other areas than the breast (metastatic breast cancer).

In metastatic breast cancer, cancer is spread from its original site to the other parts of body such as bone, lungs or liver. The cancer which is moved from the breast and developed in other parts of body through the blood or lymphatic system is known as the secondary cancer. A diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer can be enormously overwhelming, frightening, staggering for anyone. Chemotherapy treatment can help to manage symptoms associated with disease and extends survival.

Lungs, brain, liver and bones are the most common secondary cancer locations Common symptoms of metastatic breast cancer include lump in your breast or on your chest wall, bone pain, or shortness of breath. It is also possible that you may not have any symptoms and that the only way to keep yourself healthy is to be proactive and to take an active role in your health care. Frequent laboratory tests and x-rays can help to determine whether the cancer is spread or not.

Chemotherapy can be effectively used to destroy cancer cells including those that have spread to areas other than the breast. Chemotherapy drugs are cytotoxic as they kill cells. Different chemotherapy drugs are available to treat metastatic breast cancer. Chemotherapy drugs when applied circulate throughout the body via the bloodstream, and kill the cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs are administered carefully in terms both dosage and frequency of treatment to minimize side effects that are associated with treatment.

Selection of chemotherapy treatment depends on kind of cancer a person, how large the tumor is and how far it has spread. You should consult with your doctor and medical team about appropriate chemotherapy treatment and drugs depending on type and stage of breast cancer.

Different chemotherapy drugs are used to treat metastatic breast cancer including Adriamycin, taxanes (such as taxol), and capecitabine. Ixempra is another chemotherapy drug used to treat breast cancer when above drugs is ineffective.

Chemotherapy drugs damage normal body cells while destroying cancer cell. This causes side effects. These side effects include nausea, vomiting, sickness, fatigue, loss of appetite, mouth sores, hair loss, memory loss, lower resistance to infection and bleeding. Usually these side effects are temporary and will disappear once the treatment is over.

Usually metastatic breast cancer is not a curable condition. However, with chemotherapy treatment, one can have extended survival, delay the progression of the cancer, relieved cancer related symptoms and improved quality of life.