Chemotherapy is used to treat breast cancer with medication that destroys cancer cells.
Chemotherapy is usually given after surgery. The goal of chemotherapy after surgery is to destroy cancer cells that are believed to have spread from the breast to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy is intended to help reduce the risk of recurrence (the cancer coming back).
For very large breast cancer tumours, chemotherapy may be given before surgery. The goal of chemotherapy before surgery is to shrink the tumour so that it is easier to operate on.
Treatment
Chemotherapy medication is usually given into a vein (intravenously), although some types are available in pill form. Different chemotherapy drugs work on cancer in different ways, so usually more than one type of chemotherapy medication is used at the same time. This “multi-agent” approach is used for the best treatment results.
Chemotherapy treatments are usually given in cycles. This means that treatment is given every three or four weeks, typically over a period of three to six months.
Side effects
Side effects of chemotherapy happen because the medication affects the whole of your body and can harm healthy cells as well as cancer cells. The dose is carefully monitored to have the most impact on the cancer while doing the least harm to healthy cells. The side effects you experience will depend on the drug combination you receive.
Common short-term side effects include hair loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, muscle and joint aching, diarrhea, temporary memory disturbances, infection and menopausal symptoms. Your health care team will be able to treat or lessen some of these side effects, and they should go away after you have finished chemotherapy treatment.
Other possible side effects are changes to your reproductive system, which may affect your fertility if you are premenopausal. The effect on fertility may be temporary or permanent, as in the case of treatment-induced premature (early) menopause.
Ask your health care team about the benefits, limitations and possible side effects of chemotherapy to help you make an informed decision about your treatment.
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