EN
1. Chemotherapy
|
2. Chemotherapy before breast cancer surgery
|
3. Chemotherapy after breast cancer surgery
|
4. Consequences of taking chemotherapy
|
5. Fighting side effects
|
6. Chemotherapy price abroad
|
Reading time – 12 minutes
Chemotherapy for breast cancer is one of the key methods of treatment. Thanks to this method, it is possible to achieve a stable remission or even recover from the disease. How chemotherapy is carried out for breast cancer, how much does it cost and what side effects may appear after using chemotherapy – read in an article prepared by specialists of the international medical platform Mediglobus.
Listen:
Chemotherapy treatment
Cancer chemotherapy is a method of treating cancer using anticancer drugs. By the mechanism of action, it is customary to distinguish between cytotoxic and cytostatic chemotherapy drugs. Cytotoxic drugs are designed to destroy tumor cells, while cytostatic drugs inhibit the growth of malignant cells.
A course of chemotherapy for breast cancer is prescribed at any stage of the disease and is often combined with other methods. It acts as the main method of treatment only at the last stage of cancer as palliative therapy. The goal of such treatment is to improve the quality and increase the woman’s life expectancy.
Chemotherapy cannot be used as a stand-alone treatment for breast cancer. It is prescribed only in combination with other methods of treatment. When developing a treatment plan for breast cancer, the oncologist prescribes an individual chemotherapy regimen .
Most often, it is a combination of several drugs. This is done to prevent cancer cells from developing resistance to the drug.
Chemotherapy for breast cancer at stages 0 and 1 is prescribed according to individual recommendations. In stages 2 and 3, chemotherapy is used before or / and after surgery. At stage 4, chemotherapy for breast cancer acts as a supportive one.
Chemotherapy before surgery for breast cancer
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer is a type of chemotherapy given before surgery. The goal of this approach is to reduce the size of the tumor. The smaller the tumor becomes after a course of chemistry, the less tissue the surgeon will remove during the intervention.
Chemotherapy after surgery for breast cancer
This type of chemotherapy is called adjuvant chemotherapy. It is carried out with the aim of destroying malignant cells that may have remained after surgery. Because the drug is administered intravenously and is spread through the body along with the blood flow, the method makes it possible to destroy cancer cells before any metastasis develop.
Consequences of chemotherapy for breast cancer
Side effects after chemotherapy can manifest as: nausea and vomiting, dizziness, loss of appetite (temporarily), alopecia (hair loss), bruising, diarrhea, general weakness, which usually disappears after two weeks of chemotherapy.
How to deal with the side effects of chemotherapy?
One of the most annoying side effects after chemotherapy are hair loss and worsening of nails. Today, foreign clinics use modern methods that can significantly reduce the negative effect of chemo.
One of these methods is the local cooling of those areas that suffer most from the chemotherapy. For example, a cooling helmet is worn over the patient’s head during the session, and special pads are worn over the arms and legs.
These appliances cool the scalp and fingers. Due to the narrowing of blood vessels, blood flow slows down and hair and nails are less susceptible to the negative effects of chemotherapy.
Read: 
The cost of breast cancer chemotherapy in foreign clinics
Chemotherapy prices may vary depending on the duration of the course. Also, the cost of this procedure is influenced by the type of chemotherapy drug and the level of the medical center in which the treatment is carried out.
The cost of chemotherapy for breast cancer in clinics in Germany:
| Hospital | Cost of procedure |
|---|---|
| Helios Hospital Group | from €2,500 |
| Asklepios Medical Group | from €2,900 |
Vivantes Medical Center
Read about the clinic →
The price of breast cancer chemotherapy in Spanish clinics:
| Hospital | Cost of procedure |
|---|---|
| Teknon Medical Center | from €2,400 |
| University Hospital of Catalonia | from €2,300 |
| Quiron Madrid Hospital | from €2,000 |
| University Clinic of Navarra | from €2,200 |
Teknon Medical Center
Read about the clinic →
The cost of chemotherapy for breast cancer in Turkey:
| Hospital | Cost of procedure |
|---|---|
| Medical Park Hospitals | from $1,900 |
| Memorial Hospital | from $1,650 |
| Liv Hospital | from $1,800 |
| Koc University Hospital | from $1,500 |
Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital
Read about the clinic →
The price of breast cancer chemotherapy in Israel:
| Hospital | Cost of procedure |
|---|---|
| Sourasky Medical Center | from $2,400 |
| Assuta Medical Center | from $2,600 |
| Sheba Medical Center | from $2,500 |
| Rambam Hospital | from $2,450 |
Sourasky Medical Center
Read about the clinic →
The cost of breast cancer chemotherapy in South Korea:
| Hospital | Cost of procedure |
|---|---|
| University Anam Hospital | from $1,650 |
| Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital | from $1,500 |
| Samsung Medical Center | from $1,800 |
University Anam Hospital
Read about the clinic →
Reviews on breast cancer chemotherapy
Hospital: Medical Park Hospital
Procedure: Chemotherapy and lumpectomy
Age: 32 years
City Kharkiv
Christina: “Hello, my name is Christina. Last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The first thing I did was reread a bunch of stories on forums about operations, radiation therapy and chemotherapy for breast cancer. From the stories of other girls, I realized that my case was not the most difficult, but it was still scary. In addition, the girls wrote that it was better to immediately go abroad for treatment. I looked for a clinic on the Internet and ended up on the Mediglobus website. True, it was difficult to choose, because I wanted to get to a good specialist. As a result, I left a request and an employee of the mediglobus called me back. Together we decided on the country and clinic. Then there was a flight to Turkey, examination and meeting with doctors. I liked the clinic, everything is very clean, the staff are friendly. In addition to chemotherapy, I underwent an operation to remove a tumor, and the chemotherapy itself went almost without discomfort. Thanks to the doctors of the Medical Park clinic for preventing the disease from developing. I feel well now, but I continue to be monitored by the oncologist. I wish you all good health !!!”
For more information on the cost of chemotherapy and medical travel for oncology treatment abroad, ask the MedicGlobus coordinators.
