{"id":613932,"date":"2023-03-03T16:49:48","date_gmt":"2023-03-03T22:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/03\/breast-cancer-and-best-practices-factors-that-may-affect-care\/"},"modified":"2023-03-03T16:49:48","modified_gmt":"2023-03-03T22:49:48","slug":"breast-cancer-and-best-practices-factors-that-may-affect-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/03\/breast-cancer-and-best-practices-factors-that-may-affect-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Breast Cancer and Best Practices: Factors That May Affect Care"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

\"photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

Many women get breast cancer. But the disease is deadliest for non-Hispanic Black women. And when it comes to metastatic breast cancer, women of color are less likely to get timely treatment that follows national guidelines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to Grace Suh, MD, medical director at Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor, lack of access to health education and regular medical care is a big part of what\u2019s fueling this disparity. And medical centers are actively trying to find and fix differences in breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment that fall along racial lines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cRegardless, despite all these efforts, there still remains a significant gap in health equity,\u201d Suh says, \u201cAnd we recognize that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s some of what we know so far about what affects breast cancer treatment in women of color.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/highlights><\/pull_quotes><\/section>\n

\n

What Are Best Practices for Metastatic Breast Cancer?<\/h2>\n

Medical experts get together and agree on what kind of treatment is best for certain diseases. These national guidelines are usually referred to as best practices, standard of care, or standard therapy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/highlights><\/pull_quotes><\/section>\n

\n

Systemic drug therapies are typically the go-to for breast cancer that\u2019s spread to other parts of your body, also known as stage IV or metastatic breast cancer. But there may be a benefit to surgery and\/or radiation therapy for some people.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Treatment of metastatic breast cancer typically includes one or more of the following drugs:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Hormone therapy<\/li>\n
  • Chemotherapy\u00a0<\/li>\n
  • Targeted therapy<\/li>\n
  • Immunotherapy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    But metastatic breast cancer isn\u2019t the same in everyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    \u201cIn general, it\u2019s actually multiple different diseases,\u201d says Sarah Schellhorn, MD, a breast oncologist with Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital<\/span> and an associate professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. \u201cAnd we tailor therapy based on biology and what\u2019s driving the cancer.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The types of drugs your doctor chooses for you depend on things like whether your cancer is aggressive, fueled by hormones, or tests positive for HER2 (a protein that helps cancer cells grow). But they\u2019ll also consider how treatment will impact your overall health and well-being.<\/p>\n

    <\/highlights><\/pull_quotes><\/section>\n

    \n

    Which Health Conditions Affect Breast Cancer Treatment?<\/h2>\n

    Treatment can shrink your tumors, lessen symptoms caused by cancer, and help you live longer. But these are strong drugs that come with side effects. Sometimes a pre-existing medical problem can influence the type of treatment your doctor thinks is best.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/highlights><\/pull_quotes><\/section>\n<\/div>\n

    \n
    \n

    \u201cOne of the problems is you have to be healthy enough to receive chemo,\u201d Schellhorn says. \u201cAnd that\u2019s not really a yes or no question. But you want to be able to give enough chemotherapy that it treats the cancer but not too much that it actually harms someone or decreases their quality of life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

    Here are some health conditions that may affect your breast cancer treatment:\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Cardiovascular risk factors.\u00a0<\/strong>Common cancer treatments can be \u201ctoxic to the heart,\u201d Schellhorn says. For example, some therapies can make it hard for your heart to pump blood, or they may speed up other heart and blood vessel problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Heart issues caused by cancer drugs may go back to normal if you ever stop treatment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

    <\/highlights><\/pull_quotes><\/section>\n

    <\/pagebreak>\n

    But if you already have a weak heart or are at risk for cardiovascular disease, your doctor may need to delay your care while they talk things over with your cardiologist. Or they may opt for a nonstandard treatment with fewer cardiac risks.<\/p>\n

    In general, Black and Hispanic women are more likely to already have other health issues that impact the heart and blood vessels. Those typically include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n