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