Does Breast Cancer Make You Dizzy

Fatigue Affects Breast Cancer Patients Even Before First Chemotherapy Treatment According To Study

Date:

University Of Nebraska

Summary:

A new study has found that even before women with breast cancer undergo chemotherapy, they experience fatigue and disruptions in sleep and activity levels.

A University of Nebraska Medical Center study has found that even before women with breast cancer undergo chemotherapy, they experience fatigue and disruptions in sleep and activity levels. Researchers say their findings suggest health professionals should address fatigue following breast cancer surgery.

Researchers say controlling fatigue after surgery before starting chemotherapy is important because fatigue typically increases during chemotherapy. Between 70 to 95 percent of breast cancer patients experience fatigue while undergoing chemotherapy.

The study was published in the current issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. Having studied 130 women with early stage breast cancer , it the largest study to document the prevalence of fatigue associated with altered sleep and activity patterns before chemotherapy treatment. The data confirms what was reported in a previous smaller study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Researchers measured sleep and activity patterns during the 48 hours prior to the first chemotherapy treatment using wristwatch-sized activity monitors called actigraphs.

Dr. Berger said the findings provide an important benchmark to begin looking for interventions to reduce cancer-related fatigue.

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Mouth And Throat Changes

Radiation therapy to the head and neck can cause mouth changes. Radiation not only kills cancer cells but can also harm healthy cells in the glands that make saliva and the moist lining of your mouth. You may have:

• Mouth sores
• Loss/change in taste
• Thickened saliva

Some problems, like mouth sores, may go away after treatment ends. Others, such as taste changes, may last for months or even years. Some problems, such as dry mouth, may get better but never go away.

Mouth Care After Radiation

Your Throat

Radiation therapy to the neck or chest can cause the lining of your throat to become swollen and sore. Your risk for throat changes depends on how much radiation you are getting, whether you are also having chemotherapy, and whether you use tobacco and alcohol while getting radiation therapy. You may notice throat changes in 23 weeks after starting radiation. These will likely get better 46 weeks after you have finished treatment.

Nutrition During Head, Neck or Chest Radiation

What Are 18 Signs And Symptoms Of Cancer

Cancer gives most people no symptoms or signs that exclusively indicate the disease. Unfortunately, every complaint or symptom of cancer can be explained by a harmless condition as well. Some cancers occur more frequently in certain age groups. If certain symptoms occur or persist, however, a doctor should be seen for further evaluation. Some common symptoms that may occur with cancer are as follows:

• Persistent cough or blood-tinged saliva
• These symptoms usually represent simple infections such as bronchitis or sinusitis.
• They could be symptoms of lung cancer or head and neck cancer. Anyone with a nagging cough that lasts more than a month or with blood in the mucus that is coughed up should see a doctor.

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Metastatic Breast Cancer Symptoms In The Bones:

The bone is one of the most common places for breast cancer to metastasize60% of metastatic breast cancer patients experience bone or lung metastasis, according to research published in the journal Cancer. The most common symptom is bone or joint pain that progressively gets worse, Dean Tsarwhas, MD, the medical director of cancer services for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, tells Health. Dr. Taiwo adds that the most common areas for bone to be affected are in the hip and lower back.

Identifying bone pain can be challenging for patients who have arthritis or other chronic pain issues, Dr. Taiwo says. “Patients who have arthritis…aren’t that concerned about the pain that they’re having. They think it’s part of the arthritis.” She says that any new pain that feels different than other chronic pain a patient may have experienced is a red flag that their breast cancer may have spread.

In rare cases, Dr. Taiwo says that patients find out they have metastatic breast cancer in their bones after breaking their bone . “In the process, images are done and we find that they have other lesions in the area.” This is known as a pathologic fracture.

What Other Conditions Can Cause A Change In Breast Size

Some women naturally have two different-sized breasts. If your breasts were always different in size, theres no need to worry.

Your breasts can also change shape during times of hormonal transition, such as during pregnancy and menopause. Call your doctor if the change seems sudden, dramatic, and it doesnt appear to be linked to any hormone issue.

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Keep Exercise Easy And Fun

How much you should exercise is different for each person. We dont know the best level of exercise for someone with cancer. The goal is to have your exercise program help you keep up your muscle strength and keep you able to do the things you want and need to do. The more active you are, the better youll be able to exercise and function. But even if planned exercise stops, its good to keep being active by doing your normal activities as much as you can. The key to staying active is to keep your exercise program simple and fun. Exercise and relaxation techniques are great ways to relieve stress. Reducing stress is an important part of getting well and staying well.

Who Can Help Me Control My Pain

It should be possible to achieve good control of your pain. It is important for you to let your team know if you are having a lot of pain, as a change in dose or use of different drugs may be helpful. Sometimes, your oncologist may suggest you see someone who specialises in cancer pain management, perhaps at a pain clinic or through palliative care .

It is important to talk with your treating team about any pain you may be experiencing. The more accurately you can describe the pain, the easier it will be for your doctor to prescribe the most effective treatment.

Keeping a diary noting the following could help:

• If 0 is no pain at all and 10 is the worst pain you could imagine, what number is yours?
• What does it feel like a dull ache or more like stabbing or burning?
• Is it constant or intermittent?
• If it comes and goes, when is it at its worst and how long does it last?
• Is it easy to pinpoint, or more generalised?
• Is there anything that provides relief or that makes it worse?
• If you have tried different medications, did one work better than another?

Some people worry that if they take too much pain medication they may become dependent on it. You may also find yourself worrying that increasing the amount of pain medication you are using means that your cancer is getting worse. There are many myths about pain-relieving agents and cancer, particularly morphine.

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What Are The Reasons For A Breast Mri

The most recent guidelines from the American Cancer Society include screening MRI with mammography for certain high-risk women. This option should be considered for the following:

• Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation

• Women with a first-degree relative with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, if they have not yet been tested for the mutation

• Women with a 20% to 25% or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer, based on 1 of several accepted risk assessment tools that look at family history and other factors

• Women who have had radiation treatment to the chest between the ages of 10 and 30, such as for treatment of Hodgkin disease

• Women with the genetic disorders Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome or those who have a first degree relative with the syndrome

Some common uses for breast MRI include:

There may be other reasons for your health care provider to recommend breast MRI.

What Happens During A Breast Mri

MRI may be performed on an outpatient basis or as part of your stay in a hospital. Procedures may vary depending on your condition and your doctor’s practices.

Generally, MRI follows this process:

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Why Has Epa Intentionally Withheld Critical Health Information From The Public About The Cancer Risks Posed By Eto

What we know about ethylene oxide has changed over time. EPA changed its health value for EtO in December 2016. The new health value is 60 times more toxic to children and 30 times more toxic to adults than the previous estimate. EPA incorporated the new health value in the most recent National Air Toxics Assessment , EPAs nationwide air toxics screening tool, designed to help EPA and state, local and tribal air agencies identify areas, pollutants or types of sources for further examination.

The NATA takes about 3 years to produce. EPA gathers emissions of air toxics from all over the country, conducts an initial computer-based analyses to estimate risk, and then conducts a rigorous quality review of the inputs and results. EPA headquarters leads the effort and works with the EPA regions and the states to review the NATA and make changes to the initial draft. There are many changes that are made to that initial draft, including for EtO. This is a critically important part of the process, to be sure we are conducting the screening assessment with the best information possible. Only when we are certain that the NATA is correct do we release it. We released it in August 2018.

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Nipple Discharge Or Changes

One of the most common locations of breast cancer is beneath the nipple. The presence of a cancerous lesion may cause changes in appearance and sensitivity of the nipple. Different texture, color and shape might occur. The nipple may also feel much more tender and have an unusual texture. Some women describe a lack of sensitivity within the nipple, especially during intimate relations.

The American Cancer Society mentions nipple pain, nipple retraction and redness, scaliness or thickening of the nipple as possible signs of breast cancer.1 WebMD also mentions itching, a burning sensation, or ulceration in the nipple.3

A discharge of clear liquid, blood, or milk that doesnt happen during breast feeding might also be a sign of breast cancer. According to WebMD, unusual discharge from the nipple is usually caused by benign conditions, but may also indicate breast cancer in some cases, in which the discharge can be clear, bloody, or another color.3

This happens when a tumor forms in the milk duct on the nipple or behind it. When this happens the skin jostles to one side, allowing the tumor to cause irritation and inflammation that results in an unusual discharge from the nipple. Medical evaluation and followups are needed for early detection, but it is important to remember that many tumors are harmless.

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About The Signs And Symptoms Of A Brain Tumour

Symptoms depend on where the tumour is in the brain and how slowly or quickly it grows. They may develop suddenly, or slowly over months or even years.

As a tumour grows, it can press on or grow into nearby areas of the brain. This can cause symptoms because it stops that part of the brain from working normally. Symptoms can also happen because the tumour is increasing the pressure inside the skull.

These symptoms can be caused by conditions other than a brain tumour. But it is important to get them checked by your GP straight away.

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Sickness In Advanced Cancer

Some people in the advanced stages of cancer may feel or be sick a lot. This type of sickness is very different to that of people having chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

It can severely affect your day to day life and make you very tired and depressed.

People with advanced cancer can feel and be sick for different reasons. These include:

• the cancer itself

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Pain Or Nerve Changes

Some of the drugs used for chemotherapy may cause changes in your nervous system. These changes can be temporary or permanent. Other changes in the body can cause pain as well. It is important to talk with your doctor or nurse about any pain or nerve changes you may be having. Your cancer treatment center may have a pain or palliative care clinic or team that you can work with to manage your pain.

Waiting For Test Results

Waiting for test results can be very stressful. It may take a few weeks to get all the results of your tests.

You should be offered an appointment to discuss your results. Its a good idea to take someone with you in case you need support.

If youre anxious about your results or would like to talk to someone about any concerns you can on 0808 800 6000.

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How Does A Breast Mri Work

For a breast MRI, the woman usually lies face down, with her breasts positioned through openings in the table. In order to check breast positioning, the technologist watches the MRI through a window while monitoring for any potential movement.

A breast MRI usually requires the use of contrast that is injected into a vein in the arm before or during the procedure. The dye may help create clearer images that outline abnormalities more easily.

MRI, used with mammography and breast ultrasound, can be a useful diagnostic tool. Recent research has found that MRI can locate some small breast lesions sometimes missed by mammography. It can also help detect breast cancer in women with breast implants and in younger women who tend to have dense breast tissue. Mammography may not be as effective in these cases. Since MRIs do not use radiation, they may be used to screen women younger than 40 and to increase the number of screenings per year for women at high risk for breast cancer.

Another disadvantage of breast MRI is that it has historically been unable to identify calcifications or tiny calcium deposits that can indicate breast cancer.

Seeing A Healthcare Provider For Fatigue

When your chief complaint is fatigue, cancer isn’t likely to be the first thing on your healthcare provider’s mind. Fatigue is related to many other conditions, and your healthcare provider will want to rule out the most common causes first.

This will be accomplished through a physical and routine blood work. Your healthcare provider will likely order a few different blood tests, especially tests to check on your thyroid function.

During your visit, your healthcare provider may ask several questions relating to your quality of life and what factors may contribute to your fatigue. Possible questions include:

• How many hours do you work? Are you stressed at work?
• Have you had any major life changes, such as marriage, birth, or death?
• How often do you exercise?
• Do you sleep well? How much sleep do you get?
• How is your diet?
• Do you have a family history of thyroid disease?

It is important to remember that fatigue is not exclusive to cancer. If you are experiencing fatigue, it may be related to a less serious condition or have a lifestyle cause.

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When To See Your Doctor

Its important to talk to your physician if you have breast pain from any cause. Even if its not due to cancer, many women find that breast pain decreases their quality of life. In one study,15% of the women experienced breast pain at some time in their life that interfered with work and family activities. So, make sure to talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any suspicious discomfort.