Rules for Living with Breast Cancer

In breast cancer, women who undergo all or some treatments, primarily surgery, along with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or hormonal therapies, say hello to life once again. So what should they pay attention to in their future lives? Experts from Anadolu Health Center explain...

A woman diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer essentially starts a new life after successfully going through the treatment process. During this period, it is important to attend routine check-ups as frequently as recommended by the physician, not to skip screenings, maintain an ideal weight, avoid gaining weight, and engage in physical activity. As more and more women heed this advice and undergo regular check-ups, the chances of early detection and treatment of breast cancer increase. However, not much focus is placed on what lies ahead for women undergoing treatment.

Regular Monitoring is Essential

Like all women, those undergoing breast cancer treatment must be kept under regular observation. It is vital for a woman undergoing breast cancer treatment to have check-ups every 3-6 months in the initial years and at least once a year thereafter, along with necessary examinations. The initial steps of these check-ups involve the physician performing a physical examination and ordering a mammogram. In high-risk patients, abdominal ultrasound examinations conducted every six months or annually can provide information about both the liver and female reproductive organs, helping detect recurrence of the disease and formation of other tumors.

Be Aware of Medication Side Effects

Patients undergoing breast cancer treatment may need to use certain medications for many years. For instance, if a hormone-sensitive breast cancer is treated, medications that reduce hormone effects or injections that stop menstruation in young women may be used. It is important to inform women who have not had their uterus and ovaries removed and are taking tamoxifen that this medication may rarely lead to uterine cancer. Therefore, a gynecological examination should also be conducted during annual check-ups, as early detection of changes in the uterus can eliminate the risk of cancer formation in these organs if necessary precautions are taken. Furthermore, some vascular problems can rarely occur in patients taking tamoxifen, with an increased incidence of varicose veins.

Due to concerns that a group of drugs known as "aromatase inhibitors," which are more commonly used in postmenopausal patients, may reduce bone density in women, precautions and examinations related to this should be undertaken. Women undergoing breast cancer treatment, like all healthy women, should also take calcium and vitamin D supplements.

Exercising for at least 40 minutes, 2-3 days a week positively affects the patient’s life. Patients are advised to engage in any physical activity they can manage, at least taking walks. This is important for both feeling healthier and better, as well as for weight control.

Weight is the biggest enemy of breast cancer! Therefore, patients are warned against gaining weight. Weight control is achieved through diet and physical exercise suitable for the patient's condition.

How Does Fertility Get Affected?

In young women during breast cancer treatment, medications or injections that prevent menstruation are used. It is not possible to conceive while these medications are being used. If a woman taking tamoxifen becomes pregnant, it may be necessary to terminate the pregnancy. In hormone-insensitive patients, it is possible to conceive after the effects of chemotherapy have waned. After passing risky periods, if desired, conception can occur. However, even if a woman wishes to conceive, her fertility may be reduced due to the effects of treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to inform young women who will undergo chemotherapy, especially those who have never given birth before, about these risks before starting treatment. Working with a gynecologist and obstetrician, fertility can be maintained through measures such as egg or embryo freezing.