Breast cancer affects 30% of women, impacting millions of individuals in the US each year. This is an alarmingly high number of patients suffering through one of the most challenging types of cancer to exist, and the treatment can be more brutal than the disease.
Undergoing breast cancer treatment is no easy feat, and you need a strong support system to get through it. Here are some tips and advice to make the process easier for you and your loved ones:
Know What to Expect During Your Treatment
This may seem obvious, but it’s important to know what to expect during your treatment. Being prepared for the process of chemo, radiation, surgery, or even taking medications will go a long way when it comes to embarking on your breast cancer treatment. It helps to talk to people undergoing treatment or who’ve experienced it already.
Prepare for Possible Physical Side Effects
Additionally, prepare for physical—and mental—side effects too.
You will likely lose your hair, you will experience fatigue and exhaustion, there will be pain, and you might not feel like socializing or doing your routine activities. It’s all normal, and it’s best to be prepared for it.
It will also be easier to embrace this phase of your life and all the physical changes that come with it when you’re ready for it. Instead of waiting for your hair to fall out, many women will get an edgy buzz cut. It’s all about perspective!
Have a Support System—Or Multiple—If You Need Reinforcement
Breast cancer treatment is tough, and you will need support, so it’s important to have multiple support systems. Not only should you fall back on friends and loved ones to get you through this, but it also helps to talk to other patients and survivors who can offer you advice and insights and affirm your experience by sharing their own journeys. Take all the support you need from those around you and don’t hesitate to
seek out professional help and counseling too.
You can work with the compassionate, experienced, and professional team at our surgical hospital in Houston, Texas. TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital provides extensive breast cancer treatment and is home to some of the most compassionate and professional facilities for screening, diagnosis, and treatment in the Houston area.
You can visit our Comprehensive Breast Center to learn more about our services and specializations, and then find the right physician near you by scrolling to the bottom of the pages and clicking on the physician’s profile. You can also schedule an appointment for screening and diagnostic services directly with their office.
