Every single person who is diagnosed with breast cancer reacts differently to the various forms of treatment. This means that the recovery time does vary from person to person. However, the different types of breast cancer can determine an estimated recovery time.
What makes cancer treatment even harder to deal with, is the that many people have jobs and a busy schedule that they still have to attend to and due to the nature of the disease, it cannot be dealt with over a couple days and may even need a few months.
Before you go into a full panic mode and take medical leave, cancel holidays or don’t make any plans at all, talk to your doctor and he can advise you on what the best plan of action will be. Depending on the type of Breast cancer, you are able to plan your treatments around your schedule and not let them take over your whole life. Most of all you still need to enjoy your freedom.
The table below looks at the different Stages of Breast Cancer and the types of treatments available. It has an estimated time of how long it takes for treatment and recovery, which can give you a basic idea so that you can assess your choice of treatment. This, however, should be discussed in detail with your doctor.
List of Cancers and estimated length of treatments:
| Diagnosis | Surgery | Additional Surgery | Primary Treatment | Secondary Treatment | Time in Treatment & Recovery* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1/N0/M0 | Lumpectomy (7 Days) | Radiation: Brachytherapy (7 Days) | 14 – 21 Days (2 – 3 Weeks) | ||
| T1/N0/M0 | Lumpectomy (7 Days) | Re-excision (3-7 Days) | Radiation:APBI (3 Weeks) | 6 Weeks | |
| T1/N1/M0 | Lumpectomy (7 Days) | Radiation:APBI (3 Weeks) | Chemotherapy (6 Cycles/6 Months) | 7 – 8 Months | |
| T2/N0/M0 | Lumpectomy (7 Days) | Radiation: Whole Breast (6weeks) | Chemotherapy (6 Cycles/6 Months) | 8 – 9 Months | |
| T3/N1/M0 | Mastectomy (14 Days) | Chemotherapy (6 Cycles/6 Months) | 7 – 8 Months | ||
| T3/N1/M0 | Mastectomy (14 Days) | Immediate Reconstruction | Chemotherapy (6 Cycles/6 Months) | 7 – 8 Months |
** Please remember that the time for treatment and recovery are just estimates. The time varies according to your own body.
References:
Breast Cancer Treatment
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