Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. There are four main classifications of breast cancer.
- Ductal carcinoma arises from the cells of the milk ducts of the breast.
- Lobular carcinoma arises from the cells of the glands that produce milk.
- Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer, and much more aggressive. In this type, the lymphatic tissue becomes infiltrated with cancer cells, and the breast takes on a red and swollen appearance.
- Paget’s disease is characterized by cancer cells that have migrated to the surface of the breast and resembles eczema.
Breast cancer is further classified by the terms in situ and invasive. For example, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) means that the cancer has arisen from the ductal cells, and is still confined to the basement membrane of the tissue. Invasive ductal carcinoma means that the cancer has arisen from the ductal cells, but has now spread beyond the basement membrane.
What Are The Symptoms of Breast Cancer?
Always talk to your doctor if you notice any of the following signs: a lump in the breast, a dimple in the breast, changes in the appearance of the skin, nipple discharge, eczema around the nipple, or if your breast appears red, swollen and feels heavy.
What Happens After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis?
After you are diagnosed with breast cancer, you will hear numerous medical terms. “Estrogen positive” and “progesterone positive” means that your cancer type is hormone sensitive and that these hormones stimulate the growth of your cancer. “Her-2-neu (her-two-new) positive” means that your cancer has another cell receptor that when stimulated, contributes to the growth of the cancer. You may also hear the terms “triple positive” or “triple negative”, referring to the presence or absence of sensitivity to estrogen, progesterone, or Her-2.
The choice of medical treatment will depend on the size of the tumour, whether it lies in situ or has invaded surrounding tissue, whether it has spread to lymph nodes, and whether the tissue is hormone sensitive. The options are usually a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Below are some terms you may hear:
- Lumpectomy – this is the surgical removal of the tumour, as well as a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it.
- Partial mastectomy – this is similar to a lumpectomy, but more healthy tissue is removed than in a lumpectomy.
- Mastectomy – this is the surgical removal of the entire breast, including the nipple.
Complementary & Integrative Care for Breast Cancer
No matter what stage of your cancer treatment, naturopathic medicine provides a holistic approach to treating breast cancer. The primary goals of supportive integrative care for breast cancer include:
- protect the skin during radiation and prevent burns/pain;
- address long-term heart health to prevent damage from radiation and cardiotoxic chemotherapy;
- reduce side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea, fatigue, insomnia, and hot flashes;
- manage side effects of hormone medication, such as hot flashes, brain fog and joint pain;
- optimize physical activity to lower inflammation and manage symptoms of menopause;
- reduce side effects of newer immunotherapies;
- focus on bone health and prevent bone loss as a result of aromatase inhibitors;
- focus on lifestyle modifications to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Call the clinic at 403-202-7272 to get your personalized health care plan.
