Breast Cancer Frequently Asked Questions

  1.What are the advantages of Chinese medicine in treating breast cancer?  Chinese medicine has significant advantages in the treatment of breast cancer, including improving the immune function of the body, combined application with surgery, combined application with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and external treatment of Chinese medicine.  As far as improving the immune function of the body is concerned, the method of supporting and cultivating the root in the treatment rules of TCM is well reflected. Chinese medicine has the effects of immunomodulation, promoting protein synthesis, stimulating bone marrow hematopoiesis, improving the body’s resistance to tumors, etc. It also has detoxification and anti-aging effects, which improve the body’s immunity to different degrees.  The combined application of Chinese medicine and surgery can effectively treat and prevent post-surgical complications, such as post-operative flap necrosis and post-operative upper limb lymphedema, through the treatment of benefiting qi and replenishing blood, activating blood circulation and eliminating blood stasis, and promoting the circulation and eliminating swelling.  In the case of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, even if there are no obvious toxic side effects, they should be applied in combination with Chinese medicine. However, when using Chinese medicine at this time, attention should be paid to the qi and taste of the drug to avoid discomfort caused by the qi and taste of the drug, and the dosage should be light rather than heavy.  In principle, external treatment should not be used before surgery to avoid skin damage that may affect surgery. However, if the time of surgery is missed and the lump is broken, external treatment can be applied, such as (detoxification, decay removal, muscle growth, etc.), but care should be taken not to cause heavy bleeding on the ulcerated surface.  2.Can breast cancer patients get pregnant after treatment?  Whether a breast cancer patient can get pregnant after treatment depends on the patient’s specific condition. Some scholars suggest that after breast cancer treatment, if pregnancy is required, patients with negative axillary lymph nodes should wait for at least 3 years, and if patients with positive axillary lymph nodes need to be observed for more than 5 years. Most scholars believe that it is best for breast cancer patients to avoid pregnancy for several years after treatment.  Based on the treatment results of the disease alone, women with breast cancer are prone to recurrence and metastasis after pregnancy. In some patients, pregnancy after treatment has resulted in the development of primary cancer in the contralateral breast, and the cancer grows rapidly and spreads easily. Therefore, the prognosis of pregnancy after breast cancer treatment is poor, and it should be preferable not to have pregnancy.  3.How to cultivate good eating habits for breast cancer patients?  Cultivating good dietary habits for breast cancer patients has a positive and affirmative effect on cancer prevention and treatment.  First of all, the diet should be regular and quantitative, with adequate daily intake of nutrition and calories; pay attention to eating more foods rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, green vegetables and fruits; eat foods containing cancer-inhibiting effects, such as cabbage, capers, mushrooms, broccoli, etc.; adhere to a low-fat diet, such as lean meat, eggs, yogurt, soy products, etc.; refuse pickled, moldy, smoked, baked and burnt foods; and eat less food. Choose to eat dried fruits and seeds containing many vitamins and trace elements and rich in fiber, protein and unsaturated fatty acids, such as sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, watermelon seeds, peanuts, raisins and so on.  4.How to pay attention to the trend of younger breast cancer patients?  The incidence rate of breast cancer is increasing year by year, and its incidence age range is around 45 to 60 years old, middle-aged and elderly people are prone to breast cancer, but a problem that cannot be ignored is the trend of younger age of incidence. This trend reminds every woman to maintain a good diet and lifestyle habits to avoid the stimulation of unfavorable factors to induce the disease. It is also important to pay attention to breast health during adolescence and to perform necessary examinations and self-examinations, which is also an important part of preventive health care.