Breast Cancer Treatment: Frequent Questions

Imagine this: You’re sitting anxiously by the phone waiting for your doctor to call. You’ve spent several weeks going back and forth to the doctor’s office having tests run trying to figure out what is going on. For months you’ve noticed something odd with your breasts. You have inverted nipples, strange lumps, and one breast is slightly more swollen than the other. You have an inclination of what it might be, but brush the thought to the back of your mind, hoping that it’s something else. Suddenly the phone rings. It is your doctor confirming your worst fear. You’ve been diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer. How would you feel?

People who are currently battling breast cancer, have a loved one fighting breast cancer, or have recently received a diagnosis are overwhelmed with a mixture of feelings from shock, denial, frustration, anger, anxiety, and eventually depression. This endless emotional cycle is normal, however there are some things that one can do to mitigate these feelings. After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, it’s very important to maintain active communication with your practitioner and cancer care team. After all, they’re the ones who are going to take you through the treatment process and provide additional emotional support. One of the best ways to do this is to ask questions. Most patients have an abundance of questions, but sometimes it’s difficult to remember or know what to ask with all the emotions that you are experiencing. In order to communicate effectively, it’s best to have all questions pre-written and have one’s thoughts organized in order to ease all anxiety and receive all answers.

Are you unsure of what to ask? At LifeWorks Wellness Center, patients ask multiple questions regarding their specific conditions.

Here are a few FAQ’s that we get to help settle your nerves.

1. How much experience do you have treating breast cancer?

Answer: LifeWorks Wellness Center has successfully treated breast cancer patients using natural remedies for over 23 years. All cancer patients will meet with Dr. David Minkoff to discuss a treatment plan that will work best for their cancer. Our Nurse Practitioners and technicians are highly experienced and fully trained in their craft.

2. What are my alternative treatment options?

Answer: LifeWorks offers many alternative methods to treating breast cancer. This includes Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT), Ozone Therapy, IV Therapies, dietary changes, peptides and/or supplement regimens. Of course, not all treatment plans are the same, therefore all (breast) cancer patients must consult with a cancer specialist and provide all necessary information such as PET scans, CT scans, or thermography results.

3. What is IPT?

Answer: IPT is an effective and less invasive form of chemotherapy. It combines both insulin and chemo drugs specific to the patient’s cancer type. The insulin opens up the cell membrane to prepare the cancer to take in the low dose chemo drugs. Its purpose is to directly target cancer tumors rather than kill all cells within the body. This is not a procedure that can be found at regular cancer facilities.

4. What’s the difference between a mammogram and a thermography?

Answer: A mammography uses radiation, compresses the breasts and scans them to detect tumors. It is most often used in conventional medical practices to find early stages of breast cancer. A thermography is a less invasive approach to detect tumors by using an infrared camera to show heat patterns and blood flow in the body. LifeWorks recommends the latter because it notices thermal changes early which the practitioner can address before cancer develops.

5. Will I experience any side effects during treatment?

Answer: Every patient’s system is different, and every cancer type is different. Therefore, it is possible that patients can still experience side effects during their treatment process. Thankfully, they won’t be as detrimental as regular chemotherapy treatments. Since IPT drops blood sugar levels, it can potentially cause fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea or symptoms of hypoglycemia. Additionally, the production of either red or white blood cells may be affected, and if this happens, the Nurse Practitioner will decrease the amount of chemo administered.

6. How long will my treatment last?

Answer: Again, this depends on the type of cancer and its stage. All breast cancer patients start with a 10 week program. They will complete a specific number of IPT treatments and to boost metabolism and energy, patients will be ordered a certain amount of intravenous and ozone therapies. In between procedures, tests will be done to evaluate the treatment progress.

Have Any Other Questions About Breast Cancer Treatment?

At LifeWorks Wellness Center, we encourage patients to ask as many questions as they would like. This opens the door for close communication and trust between the patient and practitioner. Additionally, we know the desire to understanding breast cancer and the right steps to better health and quality of life.

If you or someone that you know have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and have any other questions regarding the disease, please call 727-466-6789 to schedule an appointment with a LifeWorks cancer specialist.