Breast Cancer: An Overview

Many women know someone in their family or circle of friends who has suffered from breast cancer. It may even be the woman herself who has suffered. Today’s statistics about breast cancer are both frightening and staggering. According to experts, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women today. Breast cancer is also one of the most common types of cancer in women. In fact, it is estimated that over 1.2 million people will receive breast cancer as a diagnosis this year alone. While any type of cancer is frightening, breast cancer is a particularly insidious disease because many women may be unaware they have it without regular self-checks and mammograms. Fortunately, if caught early, breast cancer is highly treatable. Improvements in the field of treatment are being made constantly.

One of these ever-developing fields of treatment is that of prescription drugs. There are several forms of treatment a woman may undergo when diagnosed with breast cancer, including the traditional treatments of chemotherapy and radiation. However, these women will also be prescribed medication with one or more of the variety of drugs engineered to help fight against breast cancer. Once a woman has undergone treatment for breast cancer, she will most likely continue to take a form of prescription drugs to try to prevent the cancer from recurring. A woman may remain on prescription drug treatment for as long as several years after her initial treatments of chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of the two to try to ensure the cancer does not return.

Like any medication, breast cancer prescription drugs have their benefits and drawbacks. Treatment for breast cancer is not a smooth road, and there may be days when the patient feels the treatment is actually worse than the disease. However, with developments continually being made, medications for breast cancer are improving all the time. Successfully treating breast cancer depends upon a number of factors, including how early the cancer was detected and the severity and class of the cancer being treated. However, prescription drugs may offer some hope for a more successful and effective treatment, both during other forms of treatment and after as a preventative measure.