Jamil's Victory
- London-born Pakistani actress, Nadia Jamil, 40, shares with fans on social media this week she is officially cancer-free.
- Jamil was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in 2020.
- Treatment options for breast cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Related: Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
Read MoreI have some nerve damage in my feet due 2 the brutal chemotherapy, but I shall live 2 dance my way, coz bhangra is all in the shoulders anyways…”
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Treatment Options for Breast Cancer
Jamil shares with her fans that she underwent chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer; the actress reportedly had surgery, too, soon after her diagnosis. Surgery such as a mastectomy is one treatment option for breast cancer, along with radiation, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy.
Related: When Should I Get a Mammogram?
In an earlier interview, oncologist Dr. Ann Partridge of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute lays out her evaluation process for whether or not a woman should have a mastectomy to treat her cancer.
Related: Getting to Know Your Breasts with Self-Exams
She says, “So when I talk to a woman who comes to me and she has breast cancer, I evaluate what the standard options for treatment for her are. [This] typically includes cutting out the cancer– which is either a lumpectomy if you can get it all with just a little scooping around of the area that’s abnormal or a mastectomy for some women meaning taking the full breast because sometimes these lesions can be very extensive in the breast,” explains Dr. Partridge.
Related: You Should Be Aware of These Signs of Breast Cancer
“Depending on the size and other features, such as family history, a patient may opt for more aggressive surgery,” she says. “And so even for early stage one breast cancer, a woman may elect a mastectomy to remove her whole breast.”
When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?
Fighting Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In her post on social media this week, Jamil acknowledges the hardships faced during her battle with cancer amid a global pandemic. She thanks her friends and family for “the solid support they offered me during cancer & isolation during the pandemic.”
Related: You Asked, We Answered: The Latest COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance for Cancer Patients
For people battling cancer during the pandemic, particularly in places where there are high numbers of COVID-19 cases, it’s important to be vigilant in practicing safety precautions while having your scans and going through treatment. Some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, can blunt the immune system, making a person more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus. That’s why it’s important to follow CDC safety guidelines such as wearing a mask and maintaining social distance.
Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer Patients During COVID-19
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