| Your doctor will take a number of things into | | | | spread to other parts of the body but may be larger |
| consideration when deciding what treatment to | | | | than 5cm across, growing into the skin or muscle of |
| prescribe for breast cancer. His decision will depend | | | | the chest, or present in the lymph nodes which are |
| on various factors such as what type of breast | | | | stuck to each other or to other structures. |
| cancer you have, the size of the tumour in the | | | | Aromatase inhibitors block estrogen that may be |
| breast, the grade of the cancer cells, your cancer | | | | produced by the adrenal glands in post-menopausal |
| cells test results, whether you have had your | | | | women and can help to shrink the cancer in the |
| menopause and your health in general. | | | | breast. |
| The five main treatments for breast cancer are | | | | Your doctor may suggest chemotherapy or hormone |
| surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, | | | | therapy for after your surgery as it helps lower the |
| chemotherapy and biological treatments. Depending | | | | re-occurrence of cancer. |
| on your situation you could have any or even all of | | | | Biological Therapy |
| these treatments. As each case of breast cancer is | | | | Biological therapy, such as Herceptin, is the newest |
| different one cannot generalize and prescribe a | | | | type of cancer treatment. Herceptin is a monoclonal |
| standard course of treatment without examining the | | | | antibody made in a laboratory designed to target and |
| case specifics. | | | | kill breast cancer cells. There is evidence that |
| Surgery and Radiation | | | | Herceptin may help to stop breast cancer from |
| Most treatments for breast cancer start with | | | | coming back and it may help keep advanced breast |
| surgery, of which there are different types. In some | | | | cancer under control for longer. Used initially for the |
| cases it is possible to have only the tumor removed, | | | | treatment of advanced breast cancer, Herceptin is |
| depending on its size and position in the breast, or it | | | | now also licensed in some places to treat early |
| may be necessary to have a mastectomy where | | | | breast cancer, although continued research is |
| your breast is removed. Some people prefer to have | | | | necessary to get the full picture of its use as a |
| the breast removed completely once it has had | | | | treatment. |
| cancer in it, but this is not a decision you have to | | | | Talk to your doctor about the treatments he is |
| make in haste. If you have the option, take your | | | | prescribing for you. If you feel you would like a |
| time to think of how you feel about the two | | | | second opinion then ask for one. You may feel you |
| procedures. | | | | are not getting the treatment you want or need and |
| Surgery is often followed by radiotherapy as a | | | | may want to discuss this with another specialist, and |
| back-up treatment. This procedure uses radiation to | | | | you should do so. Take all your test results and |
| kill the cancer cells in the breast. | | | | X-Rays with you so that they can assess your case |
| Chemotherapy and Hormone Therapy | | | | with all the facts. It may not mean that they will |
| Chemotherapy or hormone therapy may be | | | | take over your case, but they can give you their |
| prescribed for before or after your surgery and | | | | opinion on your situation and discuss with you how |
| radiotherapy. Doctors may try to make the cancer | | | | they would approach it. You may hear something |
| smaller with chemotherapy prior to your surgery to | | | | new or merely a confirmation of what your doctor |
| make it easier to remove. Older women with locally | | | | has suggested. Either way, ask any questions you |
| advanced breast cancer may first be treated with a | | | | may have to help you clarify the details. Bear in mind |
| hormone therapy known as an aromatase inhibitor. | | | | though, that organizing a second opinion may take |
| Locally advanced breast cancer is cancer that has not | | | | time and could delay your treatment. |