Breast Cancer Treatment

The mainstay of breast cancer treatment is surgeryor gamma rays are very effective in destroying the
when the tumor is localized, with possible adjuvantcancer cells that might recur where the tumor was
hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and/orremoved. These X-rays are delivered by a machine
radiotherapy. At present, the treatmentcalled a linear Accelerator or LINAC. Alternatively, the
recommendations after surgery (adjuvant therapy)use of implanted radioactive catheters, similar to
follow a pattern. Depending on clinical criteria (age,those used in prostate cancer treatment, is being
type of cancer, size, metastasis) patients are roughlyevaluated. The use of radiation therapy for breast
divided to high risk and low risk cases which followcancer is usually given after surgery has been
different rules for therapy. Treatment possibilitiesperformed and is an essential component of breast
include Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Hormoneconserving therapy. The purpose of radiation is to
Therapy, and Immune Therapy.reduce the chance that the cancer will recur.
Information on Breast Cancer TreatmentsHormonal Treatment
SurgeryHormonal therapy is a very effective treatment
Depending on the staging and type of the tumor,against breast cancer that is
just a lumpectomy (removal of the lump only) mayhormone-receptor-positive. Find out if you should be
be all that is necessary or removal of larger amountstested to see if you need other therapies, as well.
of breast tissue may be necessary. Surgical removalSometimes called "anti-estrogen therapy," hormonal
of the entire breast is called mastectomy. Standardtherapy blocks the ability of the hormone estrogen
practice requires that the surgeon must establish thatto turn on and stimulate the growth of breast cancer
the tissue removed in the operation has margins clearcells. Tamoxifen is the drug most commonly used to
of cancer, indicating that the cancer has beenblock estrogen receptors on cancer cells, in effect,
completely excised. If the tissue removed does notdenying them the estrogen they need to grow and
have clear margins, then further operations tomultiply.
remove more tissue may be necessary. This mayHerceptin
sometimes require removal of part of the pectoralisHerceptin is the first humanized antibody approved
major muscle which is the main muscle of thefor the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast
anterior chest wall.cancer. Herceptin is designed to target and block the
Chemotherapyfunction of HER2 protein overexpression. Research
Chemotherapy can be given both before and afterhas shown that HER2-positive breast cancer is a
surgery. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is used tomore aggressive disease with a greater likelihood of
shrink the size of a tumor prior to surgery. Adjuvantrecurrence, a poorer prognosis, and a decreased
chemotherapy is given after surgery to reduce thechance of survival compared with HER2-negative
risk of recurrence. Cancer cells usually grow morebreast cancer.
rapidly than normal cells, and chemotherapy drugsComprehensive Breast Centers
work against them by interfering with their growthWomen with breast cancer increasingly are choosing
and reproduction.to be treated at comprehensive breast centers that
Radiation Therapyoffer up-to-date treatments and the specialists that
Radiation therapy consists of the use of highcan provide them. Learn more information on breast
powered X-rays or gamma rays (XRT) that preciselycancer and the latest technologies.
target the area that is being treated. These X-rays