Breast Cancer: Preventive Measures and Drug Treatment Options

This article discusses breast cancer in women, including preventive measures, the effect of risk factors on decision-making, and drug treatment options. It also provides information on the types of cancer affecting the breast and the various treatment options available.

Running head: PHARMACOLOGY 1
Pharmacology
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

PHARMACOLOGY 2
Breast Cancer
Introduction
Cancer is a disease characterized by abnormal growth of cells that can invade the
adjacent body parts and then metastasize to other organs of the body. The common types of
cancer include neoplasms and malignant tumors. Melanoma has several molecular subtypes
and anatomic that require different strategies of management. Prostate, lung, stomach, liver
and colorectal cancer are common types of cancer among the men, whereas, breast, lung,
colorectal, and cervix are common in women (Bonneville, et, al., 2017). This paper is set to
discuss breast cancer in women, the preventive measures, the effect of the described
preventive services to decisions and the drug treatment option for the patients with breast
cancer.
Preventive services for breast cancer
About 40% of breast cancer deaths can be prevented mainly by avoiding or
modifying the key risk factors. The preventive measures include minimizing alcohol
consumption, reduction of dose and time of hormone treatment, minimization of tobacco
smoking, maintenance of healthy body weight, conducting regular body exercises and
addressing the disease-related risk factors (Siegel, Miller, & Jemal, 2015). Other prevention
measures include breastfeeding if necessary, and in case of inherited changes in the BRCA2
and BRCA1 genes, it is essential for the patient to talk to a specialist about ways of
minimizing the risk.
How the risk factors may affect the decision related to preventive measures
Maintenance of healthy body weight through physical activity plays a vital role in
cancer prevention. Most adults should aim for strength training at least once a day and about
150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise (Song, et, al., 2018). In Breastfeeding, it is
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advisable to breastfeed for a longer time at it is inversely proportional to breast cancer
development.
Reduction of alcohol consumption also decreases the risk of breast cancer. Usually,
alcohol consumption increases the chances for breast cancer development. Following a study
on the effect of alcohol consumption on the development of breast cancer, an individual is
limited to less than one drink a day since periodic little amounts greatly constitute the
development of the disease.
Smoking of tobacco should be seized completely due to the great link between
tobacco smoking and breast cancer development in premenopausal women (Tomasetti &
Vogelstein, 2017). Decission making should be based on weight control. Usually, overweight
and obesity increases breast cancer development risk. This aspect more realistic when obesity
emerge in old age staged (after menopause). Also, decision making should base on reduction
of dose and time of hormone therapy. Combination of hormone therapy in women for about
four years increases breast cancer risk.
Drug treatment options
The drugs used for treatment of breast cancer are termed as systemic therapy since
they have the capability of access the tumor cells in the body. This drugs can be administered
through the mouth or injection which get directly into the bloodstream. Different drug
treatment options are used depending on the types of cancer affecting the breast. These
treatment options are targeted therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy encompasses the use drugs called anti-cancer which are given
intravenously or through the mouth. The medications administered travel via the bloodstream
towards the cancer cells in the body. Occasionally, chemotherapy may also be delivered
directly in the spinal fluid that surrounds the spinal cord and the brain (Anampa, Makower, &
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Sparano, 2015). The use of chemo drugs may cause some side effects which depends on the
treatment length, dose and drug type. The common short-term implications of chemotherapy
are diarrhea, loss of hair, nausea and nail changes. The long term implications include
development of heart problems and lung problems due to destruction of the lungs.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy involves the use of drug which are designed to prevent the growing
and metastasis of the cancer cells. Targeted medications sometimes function to supplement
the chemo drugs. The most common short-term implication of targeted therapy diarrhea.
Long term implications include wound healing and blood clotting problems, hypertension and
different skin related problems.
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy is required mostly especially for women whose tumors are hormone
receptor-positive. The treatment does not give any help to women with hormone receptor-
negative breast cancer (Rugo, et, al.,2016). Hormone therapy uses drugs such as tamoxifen to
block hormones such estrogen from enhancing the growth of breast cancer. The short-term
implications of the treatment include vaginal dryness and hot flashes. The long term
implications include fracture risks, cardiovascular disease, and bone loss.
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References
Anampa, J., Makower, D., & Sparano, J. A. (2015). Progress in adjuvant chemotherapy for
breast cancer: an overview. BMC Medicine, 13(1), 195.
Bonneville, R., Krook, M. A., Kautto, E. A., Miya, J., Wing, M. R., Chen, H. Z., ... &
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Rugo, H. S., Rumble, R. B., Macrae, E., Barton, D. L., Connolly, H. K., Dickler, M. N., ... &
Johnston, S. R. (2016). Endocrine therapy for hormone receptor-positive metastatic
breast cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Guideline. Journal of Clinical
Oncology, 34(25), 3069-310
Siegel, R. L., Miller, K. D., & Jemal, A. (2015). Cancer statistics, 2015. CA: a cancer
journal for clinicians, 65(1), 5-29. Cancer statistics, 2015. CA: a cancer journal for
clinicians, 65(1), 5-29.
Song, M., Vogelstein, B., Giovannuccis, E. L., Willett, W. C., & Tomasetti, C. (2018).
Cancer prevention: molecular and epidemiologic consensus. Science, 361(6409),
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Tomasetti, C., Li, L., & Vogelstein, B. (2017). Stem cell divisions, somatic mutations, cancer
etiology, and cancer prevention. Science, 355(6331), 1330-1334.
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