You already know that breast cancer screening is one of your best defenses against this challenging illness. However, if you are diagnosed with breast cancer and you have a disability, it’s crucial that you thoroughly discuss cancer treatment options with your doctor.
Breast Cancer and Disability Mortality Rates
A recent study found that the rate of death for people with disabilities was higher than for those without after both groups had been treated for early breast cancer. The reasons are obscure, because patients with disabilities are seldom included in clinical trials, according to lead author Dr. Ellen P. McCarthy of Harvard Medical School in Boston.
What does it mean for someone with a disability who has also been diagnosed with breast cancer?
The researchers were able to highlight some issues that can affect cancer treatment options:
• Those using wheelchairs or walkers could be prevented from full mobility if a total mastectomy or extensive dissection of the lymph nodes weakens their upper torso or arms.
• Patients with certain physical impairments may be unable to undergo radiation therapy due to an inability to raise their arm or lie in one position.
• A lack of reliable accessible transportation can inhibit a person’s ability to complete a full course of radiation treatment.
What to Consider with Cancer Treatment Options
In simpler terms, the method of cancer treatment you choose may be affected by one or more of the following conditions:
• Uncertain or sporadic transportation
• A higher than normal risk of infection
• Weakness in the upper body
• Spasms or other uncontrollable movements
Therefore, it’s vitally important that you thoroughly discuss the impact of various breast cancer treatments with your oncologist before you decide on a plan of action. Keep in mind that it’s not unreasonable to assume that your doctor may have misconceptions and/or biases of their own about your disability and it will be your job to help him or her determine the best cancer treatment options based on your individual circumstances.
The more knowledgeable you are about cancer treatment plans and your own condition, the easier it will be for the two of you to arrive at the best option for you.
See Related Articles
For more information on when and where to get an accessible mammogram if you have a disability, see Routine Exams for Early Breast Cancer Detection.
Why do so many women with disabilities have undetected cancers? Find out in Women with Disabilities at Greater Risk for Undetected Cervical and Breast Cancer.
