Cancer Treatment Options
Mrs. Williams is a 27-year-old female diagnosed with breast cancer. She is currently in pharmacy school. She does not have children, but hopes to have them someday. She has been tested and has a genetic predisposition for this disease.
What treatment options does she have?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of those treatment options?
What would you tell Mrs. Williams if she decided to refuse treatment?
Mrs. Williams really wants to have children before she starts treatment. What would you educate her about? Why? Remember that your posts must exhibit appropriate writing mechanics including using proper language, cordiality, and proper grammar and punctuation. If you refer to any outside sources or reference materials, be sure to provide proper attribution and/or citation.
Initial post requirement must be 250 words minimum. The 2 peer responses must be 150 words minimum each.
Surgery
- Advantages: Surgery can remove the cancer and reduce the risk of it coming back.
- Disadvantages: Surgery can be disfiguring and can cause pain and other side effects.
- Advantages: Radiation therapy can be targeted to the cancer, which can help to reduce side effects. It is also effective at reducing the risk of the cancer coming back.
- Disadvantages: Radiation therapy can cause side effects such as skin irritation, fatigue, and hair loss.
- Advantages: Chemotherapy can kill cancer cells all over the body, which can be helpful for cancers that have spread.
- Disadvantages: Chemotherapy can cause a variety of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and fatigue.
- Advantages: Hormonal therapy can be effective at preventing the cancer from coming back and can also be used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
- Disadvantages: Hormonal therapy can cause side effects such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. It can also increase the risk of certain other cancers, such as endometrial cancer.
- Advantages: Targeted therapy can be very effective at killing cancer cells while causing fewer side effects than chemotherapy.
- Disadvantages: Targeted therapy is not effective for all types of breast cancer. It can also be expensive.