Chemotherapy

No one has ever died of breast cancer in their breast! They die of breast cancer when it has spread beyond the breast, therefore chemotherapy plays a crucial role in breast cancer care as it's target is the entire body, not just the breast.

In breast cancer treatment, chemotherapy refers to the use of various medicines to kill or halt the growth of rapidly multiplying cells.

Chemotherapy usually includes a combination of drugs, since this is more effective than a single drug given alone. Many combinations of drugs are used to treat breast cancer and your doctors will determine which combination of chemotherapy is appropriate for you.

Recent studies have shown that women with early stage breast cancer may benefit from adjuvant (additional) therapy following primary treatment (mastectomy or lumpectomy with radiation therapy). These studies indicate that many breast cancer patients whose underarm lymph nodes show no signs of cancer (known as node negative) may benefit from chemotherapy or hormonal therapy after primary treatment.

Prior to the initiation of your chemotherapy, your doctors may want a test to evaluate your heart function as some of the drugs can affect your heart ability to pump blood.  ( MUGA Scan or Echo cardiography)

You may also be requested to have a catheter < infusaport> placed to administer the drugs which may be toxic to your arm veins and to allow for ease of blood  drawn for testing.