The truth and how to prevent cancer


Breast Cancer Treatment

The mainstay of breast cancer treatment isprecisely target the area that is being
surgery when the tumor is localized, withtreated. These X-rays or gamma rays are very
possible adjuvant hormonal therapy,effective in destroying the cancer cells that
chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. Atmight recur where the tumor was removed.
present, the treatment recommendations afterThese X-rays are delivered by a machine
surgery (adjuvant therapy) follow a pattern.called a linear Accelerator or LINAC.
Depending on clinical criteria (age, type ofAlternatively, the use of implanted
cancer, size, metastasis) patients areradioactive catheters, similar to those used
roughly divided to high risk and low riskin prostate cancer treatment, is being
cases which follow different rules forevaluated. The use of radiation therapy for
therapy. Treatment possibilities includebreast cancer is usually given after surgery
Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Hormonehas been performed and is an essential
Therapy,  and  Immune  Therapy.component of breast conserving therapy. The
purpose of radiation is to reduce the chance
Information  on  Breast  Cancer  Treatmentsthat  the  cancer  will  recur.
SurgeryHormonal  Treatment
Depending on the staging and type of theHormonal therapy is a very effective
tumor, just a lumpectomy (removal of the lumptreatment against breast cancer that is
only) may be all that is necessary or removalhormone-receptor-positive. Find out if you
of larger amounts of breast tissue may beshould be tested to see if you need other
necessary. Surgical removal of the entiretherapies, as well. Sometimes called
breast is called mastectomy. Standard"anti-estrogen therapy," hormonal therapy
practice requires that the surgeon mustblocks the ability of the hormone estrogen to
establish that the tissue removed in theturn on and stimulate the growth of breast
operation has margins clear of cancer,cancer cells. Tamoxifen is the drug most
indicating that the cancer has beencommonly used to block estrogen receptors on
completely excised. If the tissue removedcancer cells, in effect, denying them the
does not have clear margins, then furtherestrogen  they  need  to  grow  and multiply.
operations to remove more tissue may be
necessary. This may sometimes require removalHerceptin
of part of the pectoralis major muscle which
is the main muscle of the anterior chestHerceptin is the first humanized antibody
wall.approved for the treatment of HER2-positive
metastatic breast cancer. Herceptin is
Chemotherapydesigned to target and block the function of
HER2 protein overexpression. Research has
Chemotherapy can be given both before andshown that HER2-positive breast cancer is a
after surgery. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy ismore aggressive disease with a greater
used to shrink the size of a tumor prior tolikelihood of recurrence, a poorer prognosis,
surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy is given afterand a decreased chance of survival compared
surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence.with  HER2-negative  breast  cancer.
Cancer cells usually grow more rapidly than
normal cells, and chemotherapy drugs workComprehensive  Breast  Centers
against them by interfering with their growth
and  reproduction.Women with breast cancer increasingly are
choosing to be treated at comprehensive
Radiation  Therapybreast centers that offer up-to-date
treatments and the specialists that can
Radiation therapy consists of the use of highprovide them. Learn more information on
powered X-rays or gamma rays (XRT) thatbreast cancer and the latest technologies.



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