In this video, Darria Long Gillespie, MD, an emergency physician and Sharecare’s Senior Vice President of Clinical Strategy, discusses chemotherapy, radiation and other therapies used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Transcript
For anyone who has experienced metastatic or stage four breast cancer, while there is not necessarily a cure,
treatment can shrink tumors or slow their spread, improve symptoms, and increase your quality of life and lifespan.
Whether your cancer has spread to the bone, brain, lung or liver, the most common treatments are systemic.
Meaning, they deliver medicine throughout the entire body. These can include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy,
targeted therapy, and bone strengthening medication. Under certain circumstances, local treatments,
such as surgery or radiation therapy, may be used to remove or shrink tumors that are causing severe symptoms or are life threatening.
Complementary or holistic therapies may also be a helpful addition to traditional treatments in strengthening and energizing cancer patients
physically, mentally, and emotionally. Yoga, meditation, massage, and acupuncture
are some of the therapies that may provide relief of cancer symptoms and side effects. Early on, ask your doctor about palliative care options
available to complement your treatment, such as support or counseling for decisions about treatment and care, as well as
spiritual and emotional issues. It's important to remember that you are not alone. New medicines are being tested every day.
So be sure to talk with your doctors about a treatment plan that will work for you.
