| Over the past decade there has been advancements | | | | patient will undergo a series of |
| in many of the treatments | | | | weeks of Radiation treatments to cleanse the |
| available for Breast Cancer. Through constant | | | | surrounding tissue and prevent |
| research we have come a long way from the limited | | | | recurrance.The mastectomy is still available as a |
| treatment options available in the past. The top | | | | treatment options and this is basically where |
| treatment choices available today are surgery, | | | | all of the breast tissue is removed down to and |
| radiation, hormonal treatment (anti-estrogen based) | | | | sometimes including the chestwall |
| and chemotherapy. These 4 regimins are often used | | | | muscles. Radiation is also performed to cleanse the |
| in conjunction with each other or adjuvantly. If you | | | | affected area after a |
| have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are | | | | mastectomy in alot of cases.Radiation Therapy: |
| offered a choice of treatments from this wide array | | | | radiation therapy consists of the use of high |
| it can be very confusing. We all know we want what | | | | powered X or |
| is best for us but sometimes with the many options | | | | gamma rays that precisely target the area that is |
| available how can one be sure?We will try to provide | | | | being treated. These X or Gamma |
| you with an overview of the treatments available | | | | rays are very effective in destroying the cancer |
| and how they | | | | cells that might recur where the |
| relate to the stage of cancer you might have. Use | | | | tumor was removed. |
| this information to educate | | | | The use of radiation therapy for breast cancer is |
| yourself so when it comes time for you and your | | | | usually given after surgery has |
| doctor to make a decision you will | | | | been performed and the purpose of the radiation is |
| know the facts on hand.There are 3 General Types | | | | to reduce the change that the |
| of Treatment Categories Available Today:Local | | | | cancer will recur. Radiation reduces the risk of |
| Treatment (Regional Treatment) - this type of | | | | recurrance of breast cancer |
| treatment is localized to the | | | | consdirably.Hormone Therapy: some breast cancers |
| breast and local lymphatics only or adjacent | | | | are hormone-receptor positive. This means |
| lymphatics to where the tumor was | | | | that the cancer will grow and spread if the hormone |
| located.Systemic Treatments - treat the whole body | | | | estrogen is present. If this is |
| and are usually reserved for the | | | | found to be the case with your type of breast |
| prevention of spread (metastases) or directy to | | | | cancer then the us of anti-estrogen |
| target spread that has occured.Alternative Therapy - | | | | hormone therapy will probably be used to lower the |
| these are considered holistic therapy and can be | | | | levels of estrogen in your body |
| helpful but | | | | which in turn will prevent the cancer cells from beign |
| have never been proven to cure. | | | | stimulated and growing or |
| We will pay close attention to Local and Systemic | | | | spreading to other parts of the body |
| treatments as the choices available | | | | Tamoxifen has been used for years as a |
| to cure breast cancer.Surgery: surgery has been the | | | | anti-estrogen hormone therapy drug with |
| number one treatment option available for breast | | | | breast cancer. In 2005 clinical trials from all of the |
| cancer for well over the past century. Today unlike | | | | world provided information |
| surgery in the past the surgeons | | | | saying that aromatase inhibitors worked alot better |
| can precisely target the area consisting of the tumor | | | | than Tamoxifen in post |
| and surrounding tissue and | | | | menopausal woman with hormone-receptor positive |
| remove only what is necessary and leaving a | | | | breast cancer. Now this was |
| considerable amount of breast tissue in | | | | only in post-menopausal woman and Tamoxifen is |
| tact. These new methods have come a long way | | | | still the drug of choice for pre- |
| from the days of the radical | | | | menopausal woman.Chemotherapy: in some breast |
| mastecomy where patients where often left | | | | cancers the risk over spread (metastases) is greater |
| deformed for life. And even the newer | | | | than in others. Remember everybody is different |
| techniques available for a mastecomy today are alot | | | | and everybody's cancer will be |
| less drastic than they where say | | | | different. If involvment of the lymph nodes is |
| 30 years ago.Today most surgery done for breast | | | | found,tumor size is great enough, or a |
| cancer is considered breast-conserving therapy | | | | higher grade is found your oncologist might suggest |
| or what is commonly called a lumpectomy. A | | | | chemotherapy alone with other |
| lumpectomy is where only the tumor is | | | | treatments including surgery and radiation. |
| removed and then once this has been done the | | | | |