What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the cells of the tissues of the breast. It occurs when cells of the breast acquire certain genetic mutations and start growing uncontrollably resulting in formation of tumor or mass. Breast cancer primarily affects women but men also develop breast cancer, though is less common.
Types of Breast Cancer:
Breast cancer is typically categorized based on where it has originated in the breast tissue. Certain common types of breast cancer include:
a) Ductal Carcinoma: It means that cancer has started in the milk ducts.
1) Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): It is non-invasive and confined to the ducts.
2) Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): It means that cancer has spread beyond the ducts and further invading the surrounding tissues.
b) Lobular carcinoma: It means that cancer begins in the milk-producing glands (lobules).
1) Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): It means that cancer is confined to the lobules.
2) Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC): It means that cancer has spread into the surrounding tissues.
Less common types of breast cancer include inflammatory breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, HER2-positive breast cancer, and Paget’s disease.
Side-Effects of Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used treatment modality in breast cancer. It involves administering strong anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs to destroy cancer cells and to further stop its growth. These drugs does not just kills the cancer cells but also affect healthy cells in the body, leading to certain side-effects. Below is mentioned certain side-effects:
a) Short-Term Side Effects:
1) Fatigue: Chemotherapy related fatigueness means feeling of persistent tiredness in spite of adequate rest.
2) Nausea and Vomiting: Chemotherapy can caused irritation of gastro-intestinal lining and even further can affect the vomiting center in the brain thereby leading to complains of nausea and vomiting.
3) Hair loss: Chemotherapy can affect the hair on the scalp and sometime even hair of the eyebrows, eyelashes, and other parts of the body.
4) Diarrhea or Constipation: Chemotherapeutic drugs can disrupt the bowel movements and interfere with digestion.
b) Long-Term Side Effects:
1) Nerve Damage (Peripheral Neuropathy): Chemotherapeutic drugs can damage the peripheral nerves thereby leading to abnormal sensation of tingling, numbness etc.
2) Cognitive Issues (“Chemo Brain”): Chemotherapy can affect the brain and further gradually lead to difficulty in concentrating, memory lapses, or feeling of sluggishness.
3) Heart Problems: Certain chemotherapeutic drugs proves to be cardio-toxic and further lead to cardiomyopathy.
4) Bone Density Loss: Chemotherapy can cause increased risk of osteoporosis due to chemotherapy-induced menopause.
5) Fertility Issues: Chemotherapy can cause temporary or permanent infertility in some women as it proves toxic to the eggs in the ovary.
c) Psychological Issues:
1) Anxiety and Depression: Chemotherapy can cause emotional challenges due to increased incidence of stress and anxiety.
2) Body Image Issue or Less Self-Esteem: Hair loss, Skin Changes, and other physical effects can cause significant impact over self-esteem.
Ayurvedic Treatment of Chemotherapy related side-effects:
Dr. Ravi Gupta, a well renowned Ayurveda Cancer Consultant specializes in holistic treatment of Breast Cancer. He strongly believes in traditional Ayurvedic principles and further integrates the same principles with modern treatment for the betterment of cancer patients.
The treatment modalities that Dr. Ravi Gupta, Ayurvedic Oncologist follows for the treatment of Chemotherapy related side-effects as follows:
1) Ayurvedic Treatment of Fatigue due to Chemotherapy: Certain Ayurvedic Herbs that belong to class of Angamarda Prasahama can help with post-chemotherapy related side-effects like Kantakari (Solanum Xanthocarpum), Yasthimadhu (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) etc. Abhyanga or medicated oil massage can also significantly help with post-chemotherapy related side-effects.
2) Ayurvedic Treatment of Hair loss due to Chemotherapy: Certain Ayurvedic herbs or formulation like Rasayana Choorna (Guduchi, Aamlaki, and Gokshur) or Bhringaraj (Eclipta alba) can help in better hair growth after post-chemotherapy related hair loss.
3) Ayurvedic Treatment of Nerve Damage (Peripheral Neuropathy) due to Chemotherapy: Certain Ayurvedic formulations like Ekangveer Rasa, Mahavata Vidhwansana Rasa etc. can prove beneficial in post-chemotherapy related nerve damage. Oil massage of the feet and palm can also prove beneficial in improving nerve damage
4) Ayurvedic Treatment of Post-Chemotherapy Related Infertility: Certain Ayurvedic Herbs like Kapikachu (Mucuna pruriens), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) etc. can prove extremely beneficial in post-chemotherapy related Infertility. Panchakarma Treatment with Yapana Basti can prove extremely beneficial in post-chemotherapy related infertility.
5) Ayurvedic Treatment of Post-Chemotherapy related Anxiety and Depression: Certain Ayurvedic herbs like Brahmi (Bacopa Monneiri), Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi) etc. can prove beneficial in post-chemotherapy related anxiety and depression. Shirodhara as mentioned in Ayurveda can also prove beneficial in post-chemotherapy related Anxiety and Depression
For Ayurvedic Treatment of Breast Cancer, Kindly Call +91-9819274611.
