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