Metastatic breast cancer is a kind of breast cancer that has spread to other organs or lymph nodes surrounding the breast. Although incurable, there is treatment which can delay its progression and relieve its symptoms. Metastatic breast cancer patients usually survive for 18 to 24 months.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Symptoms
Metastatic breast cancer signs depend on the organs or parts of the body to which the cancer has progressed. In some cases, there are no prior signs of metastatic breast cancer. Here are some common signs of metastatic breast cancer: A lump in the breast or the underarm is the most common symptom. It denotes that the breast or chest wall might be affected. Other symptoms include discharge from the nipple and pain.
Metastatic breast cancer might also affect the bones. In such a case, symptoms include pain, fracture, and constipation. High calcium levels may cause decreased alertness which is a metastatic breast cancer sign. If the cancer affects the brain or the spinal cord, the individual may experience pain; headache; loss of memory; difficulty with speech, vision, and movement; or seizures. If it progresses to the lungs, metastatic breast cancer signs may include breathing difficulties or shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue. When symptoms include nausea, swelling of hands and feet due to accumulation of fluid, itchy skin, yellowing skin, or increased fatigue, it usually denotes that the cancer has progressed to the liver.
Treatment
Research is ongoing for better treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The treatment available today seeks to prolong survival and relieve cancer-related symptoms. Systematic therapy is the most common treatment for metastatic breast cancer. However, in some circumstances, surgery or radiation may also be required. You should talk to your doctor regarding the appropriate treatment.
Systematic Therapy
This treatment includes chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and/or biologic agents depending on the nature and size of the tumor and specific symptoms. The kind of therapy to be implemented also depends on the status of hormone-receptors, i.e., estrogen and/or progesterone receptors. Metastatic breast cancer patients who are hormone-receptor positive may be treated with anti-estrogen therapy. It is also known as endocrine therapy. Hormone-receptor negative patients aren’t candidates for this therapy. Hormone-receptor positive patients may also undergo the tamoxifen therapy. Tamoxifen is a pill which is commonly prescribed for pre-menopausal women and patients with breast cancer at an advanced stage. It is a first-line endocrine therapy.
Surgery And Radiation Therapy
In case of certain symptoms or complications such as spinal cord fracture or herniation risk, a specific lesion may require treatment. It may require surgery or radiation therapy to treat or decrease the progression of the cancer from the affected area. This approach of treatment is tailored to be patient-specific.
You should consult your doctor without delay if you notice signs of metastatic breast cancer. Your doctor might require you to participate in clinical trials and consultation sessions to determine the best treatment approach.
Chronic migraine is a condition where the affected person experiences at least 15 headache days a month. It is observed that at least 8 out of these 15 days are migraine headaches with severe symptoms, and this pattern of discomfort remains consistent for 3 months. Initially, it may not be a frequently occurring episode, however, with time, the episodes may get regular with chronic headaches. If left untreated, this condition can affect a person’s life.
Causes
Several factors determine the onset of this kind of migraine. One of them includes a steady increase in the frequency of episodic headaches. Over-the-counter treatment options that are used to treat frequent headaches stop affecting over time, leading to side effects that develop into chronic headaches. Some other factors that can put an individual at a high risk of developing this condition include mood disorders like anxiety or depression, snoring, excessive caffeine intake, ongoing disturbed sleep patterns, and a history of stressful life events causing emotional or physical trauma. An unhealthy lifestyle leading to an increase in the body mass index (BMI) can also be a causal factor.
Symptoms
There is no difference between symptoms of chronic migraines and episodic migraines. However, the only thing to notice is the increased frequency of episodic headaches in a month. Some typical symptoms of this illness can be observed for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Transitioning symptoms (episodic to chronic migraines)
Diagnosis
A health professional will take a look at the affected person’s health history. If needed, the doctor may ask questions that help understand the migraine patterns. The questions include how and when the migraines begin, how long they last, are there any notable physical factors or triggers that worsen the condition, and where the location of the pain is.
The professional may also ask for a detailed history of other health conditions like anxiety, depression, lifestyle choices that may trigger these headaches, any treatment options used, and possible side effects that could be factored into the diagnosis. Based on the results, appropriate treatment methods will be advised and implemented.
Treatment options
Most of the treatment methods focus on managing the symptoms, the migraine attacks, and reducing the episodes and pain.
One of the treatment therapies includes focusing on lifestyle changes.
Some other treatment options for managing migraine attacks include:
Other techniques include:
Also, maintain a headache diary and note down the possible triggers and the number of migraine attacks in a month. If there’s a notable increase in the attacks, consult a doctor at the earliest. Knowing the triggers can help the doctor chalk out an effective treatment plan.
Preventive treatments and methods
Apart from treatment options that help manage the symptoms, there are preventive treatment methods that reduce the episodes of these headaches to a certain extent. These include using beta blockers and other therapies. One such treatment method also includes using an Allergan product named BOTOX®, which doctors recommend for those 18 years and older. The intravenous treatment method is administered around the neck or the head, where the migraine pain usually affects the person. This ten-minute procedure is not painful and can prevent headaches for three months. The procedure takes place in a doctor’s clinic under close supervision.
Chronic migraine can be painful and disrupt everyday life activities, so choosing the right treatment plan is crucial. Get all the information from a licensed health professional and seek the best possible treatment plan according to a detailed diagnosis.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops in the cells that produce melanin. The pigment melanin is responsible for giving the skin its color. Advanced melanoma can form inside one’s nose, throat, or digestive tract. Studies show that the risk of melanoma increases in people under 40, especially women. Knowing the early signs of the disease is crucial since melanoma can be treated successfully if detected early.
Stages
There are five stages of melanoma. The cancer cells of Stage 0 melanoma are restricted to the epidermis, the top layer of skin. The epidermis and dermis, the deeper layer of the skin, both contain cancer cells in Stage I melanoma. Stage II melanoma is marked by tumor thickness and ulceration, while Stage III is marked by melanoma deposits in the skin and cancer spreading to nearby lymph nodes. The advanced stage of melanoma, also called metastatic skin cancer, shows the further spread of cancer to distant areas of the body.
Causes of advanced melanoma
The exact cause of melanoma is unknown, although exposure to harsh ultraviolet (UV) radiation, tanning beds, or lamps has been shown to increase one’s risk of getting the disease. One can develop skin disease anywhere in one’s body. Those with a family history of the disease or exposure to radiation or vinyl chloride are also vulnerable to metastatic melanoma.
Signs of advanced melanoma
An early sign of melanoma is the development of an unusual mole. Normal moles are minor and uniform in size and color. But melanoma moles have irregular shapes or borders and can be larger than 6 millimeters. If a mole grows in size, color, and shape and causes itchiness, it’s best to get it checked. Advanced melanoma may lead to chronic fatigue, swollen lymph nodes or liver, loss of appetite, jaundice, skin itchiness, headaches, and even seizures. Depending on where the metastatic melanoma has spread, one may experience chest pain, breathing issues, aching bones, paralysis, sleepiness, and swelling in one’s legs or abdomen.
Melanoma treatment options
The American Cancer Society reports that the five-year survival rate for patients with melanoma that has spread to surrounding lymph nodes is 66%. Surgery is a common way to treat it. Targeted therapy is another method to eliminate the tumor and its metastases selectively. Alternatively, immunotherapy aids a person’s immune system in recognizing and shrinking cancer cells. Other treatments for metastatic skin cancer include chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Conclusion
Opdulag is a standard treatment for advanced melanoma skin cancer. The therapy, given by intravenous (IV) infusions, works with one’s immune system and is used to fight cancer that has spread or cannot be surgically removed. If one experiences any early signs of melanoma skin cancer, it’s recommended to consult a doctor immediately.