| The mainstay of breast cancer treatment | | | | rays are very effective in destroying |
| is surgery when the tumor is localized, | | | | the cancer cells that might recur where |
| with possible adjuvant hormonal therapy, | | | | the tumor was removed. These X-rays are |
| chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. At | | | | delivered by a machine called a linear |
| present, the treatment recommendations | | | | Accelerator or LINAC. Alternatively, the |
| after surgery (adjuvant therapy) follow | | | | use of implanted radioactive catheters, |
| a pattern. Depending on clinical | | | | similar to those used in prostate cancer |
| criteria (age, type of cancer, size, | | | | treatment, is being evaluated. The use |
| metastasis) patients are roughly divided | | | | of radiation therapy for breast cancer |
| to high risk and low risk cases which | | | | is usually given after surgery has been |
| follow different rules for therapy. | | | | performed and is an essential component |
| Treatment possibilities include | | | | of breast conserving therapy. The |
| Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Hormone | | | | purpose of radiation is to reduce the |
| Therapy, and Immune Therapy. | | | | chance that the cancer will recur. |
| Information on Breast Cancer Treatments | | | | Hormonal Treatment |
| Surgery | | | | Hormonal therapy is a very effective |
| Depending on the staging and type of the | | | | treatment against breast cancer that is |
| tumor, just a lumpectomy (removal of the | | | | hormone-receptor-positive. Find out if |
| lump only) may be all that is necessary | | | | you should be tested to see if you need |
| or removal of larger amounts of breast | | | | other therapies, as well. Sometimes |
| tissue may be necessary. Surgical | | | | called "anti-estrogen therapy," hormonal |
| removal of the entire breast is called | | | | therapy blocks the ability of the |
| mastectomy. Standard practice requires | | | | hormone estrogen to turn on and |
| that the surgeon must establish that the | | | | stimulate the growth of breast cancer |
| tissue removed in the operation has | | | | cells. Tamoxifen is the drug most |
| margins clear of cancer, indicating that | | | | commonly used to block estrogen |
| the cancer has been completely excised. | | | | receptors on cancer cells, in effect, |
| If the tissue removed does not have | | | | denying them the estrogen they need to |
| clear margins, then further operations | | | | grow and multiply. |
| to remove more tissue may be necessary. | | | | Herceptin |
| This may sometimes require removal of | | | | Herceptin is the first humanized |
| part of the pectoralis major muscle | | | | antibody approved for the treatment of |
| which is the main muscle of the anterior | | | | HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. |
| chest wall. | | | | Herceptin is designed to target and |
| Chemotherapy | | | | block the function of HER2 protein |
| Chemotherapy can be given both before | | | | overexpression. Research has shown that |
| and after surgery. Neo-adjuvant | | | | HER2-positive breast cancer is a more |
| chemotherapy is used to shrink the size | | | | aggressive disease with a greater |
| of a tumor prior to surgery. Adjuvant | | | | likelihood of recurrence, a poorer |
| chemotherapy is given after surgery to | | | | prognosis, and a decreased chance of |
| reduce the risk of recurrence. Cancer | | | | survival compared with HER2-negative |
| cells usually grow more rapidly than | | | | breast cancer. |
| normal cells, and chemotherapy drugs | | | | Comprehensive Breast Centers |
| work against them by interfering with | | | | Women with breast cancer increasingly |
| their growth and reproduction. | | | | are choosing to be treated at |
| Radiation Therapy | | | | comprehensive breast centers that offer |
| Radiation therapy consists of the use of | | | | up-to-date treatments and the |
| high powered X-rays or gamma rays (XRT) | | | | specialists that can provide them. Learn |
| that precisely target the area that is | | | | more information on breast cancer and |
| being treated. These X-rays or gamma | | | | the latest technologies. |