How Do I Manage the Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment?
While every patient’s experience with breast cancer treatment is highly unique, one aspect is almost universal: the frustration of dealing with side effects. It’s challenging enough to manage the various appointments and emotional stressors associated with a cancer diagnosis, but when you add in fatigue, pain, nausea, weight loss, lymphedema and other complications, every day can feel that much more daunting. However, you don’t have to go it alone.
At Moffitt Cancer Center, we encourage our patients to consult with their oncologists if and when side effects arise. For instance, you can ask your radiation therapist for a course of steroids to help alleviate radiation-induced swelling. Or, you can talk to your medical oncologist about switching to a different chemotherapy medication or a lower-dose prescription to help reduce nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. There are also preventive medications that can be used to protect against chemotherapy- and radiation-induced heart and lung damage. When you come to Moffitt, your breast cancer treatment plan will be fully tailored to your unique needs, helping you achieve the best possible outcome and quality of life.
Supportive care for men and women with breast cancer
You can access a comprehensive range of supportive care services before, during and after your breast cancer treatment at Moffitt. Our supportive care specialists can help you manage your side effects with options such as:
- Nutritional counseling to help counteract inadvertent weight loss
- Relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga
- Massage therapy for pain relief (offered on both an inpatient and an outpatient basis)
- Social, emotional, psychological and spiritual support
Consult with a supportive care specialist
At Moffitt, we welcome patients at every stage of the breast cancer treatment process. We also offer programs for survivors and their loved ones. You can request an appointment with or without a physicians’ referral by calling 1-888-663-3488 or submitting a new patient registration form online.