Contents:
- Medical Video: What to Expect When Receiving Radiation Therapy Treatment
- The duration of treatment for breast cancer depends on the type of treatment
- 1. Operation
- 2. Chemotherapy
- 3. Radiation
- So, how long is the total time needed for the treatment of breast cancer?
Medical Video: What to Expect When Receiving Radiation Therapy Treatment
Treatment of breast cancer consists of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. All three aim to reduce or destroy cancer cells in the body. So,how long does breast cancer treatment last? Can you still move as usual even though you are on treatment?
The duration of treatment for breast cancer depends on the type of treatment
Actually, there is no definite benchmark for how long the treatment period for breast cancer is from the beginning to the end.The duration of treatment will depend on the type of treatment, body condition, and cancer stage of each patient. The faster the cancer is diagnosed,then the recovery rate will be faster and better if treated.
1. Operation
Each operation has a different duration and recovery time. The following is the time needed for each surgical procedure in the treatment of breast cancer:
- Lumpectomy is a medical procedure that only aims to remove the gland around the breast. Usually this surgery is not too large, so in many cases, patients can go home that day. Recovery takes 7-14 days.
- Mastectomy is surgical removal of the breast. Of course, this medical procedure is greater than lumpectomy, so you will be asked to remain in the hospital one or two days after the surgery. The recovery time needed is also longer, which is around 1-3 weeks.
- Breast reconstruction, which is medical action performed to repair or reshape the breast after removal. This operation has a longer recovery time, depending on the condition of each patient
2. Chemotherapy
Low-dose chemotherapy usually requires about 12 weeks of treatment. Each cycle of chemotherapy will be given once every 1-2 weeks. So, if you are scheduled to undergo 4 cycles of chemotherapy, then the time taken is 3 months - this is the estimated fastest time.
This does not include the extra time you need if your body's health condition drops, so it requires more time for recovery. Again, the treatment of breast cancer is very dependent on the health conditions and the development of cancer that you have.
3. Radiation
The duration of treatment for breast cancer through radiotherapy depends on how many therapy sessions you get. In some cases of breast cancer, radiation therapy is 33 times usually will be carried out for 5 consecutive days and continues until the following week.
To find out the schedule and how much radiation therapy you get, you should ask the doctor who is handling you.
So, how long is the total time needed for the treatment of breast cancer?
The earlier the cancer cell is found at the initial stage, the faster the treatment time will be.Conversely, the more severe the condition of the cancer is, the more and the longer a series of treatments that must be done.
The average cancer treatment requires an annual time until the patient is declared fully recovered. So, if you do start treatment, prepare yourself for a long time of treatment and recovery. If you are in doubt, consult and ask everything related to your cancer treatment with a doctor.
