| In the past, the treatment options for a particular | | | | therapy is external in nature. Internal radiation |
| disease were limited to only a few. With the | | | | therapy is also being experimented. In this process, |
| advancements in medical science, we have scores of | | | | radiation-producing substances are either implanted |
| treatment options available for any disease. | | | | directly in to the tumor or injected through a tube. |
| The various treatment options available for breast | | | | 3. Herceptin: Applicable only to women with |
| cancer have increased in number too. Today there | | | | HER2-positive breast cancer, it consists of an |
| are many ways to combat and deal with breast | | | | antibody, the primary role of which is blocking the |
| cancer. They can be broadly classified into the | | | | HER2 protein in cancer cells. It is useful in cases |
| following categories: | | | | where the breast cancer has spread to other parts |
| 1. Surgery: Surgery has been the traditional mode of | | | | of the body. Also known as immune treatment, it is |
| treatment for breast cancer. However, changes have | | | | approved by US FDA for women with metastatic |
| taken place during recent times. The surgery now is | | | | disease. |
| more precise and is directed to the exact spot of | | | | 4. Hormone Therapy: It is another effective |
| the disease so that the damage to the unaffected | | | | treatment. It is useful for women having hormone |
| area is minimized.a. Lumpectomy: The cancerous lump | | | | receptive positive breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors |
| is removed surgically without removing the | | | | are more effective in women with post menopause |
| surrounding lymph nodes.b. Mastectomy: This is | | | | and Tamoxifen in women with pre menopause |
| performed if the lump has become large or in case | | | | hormone receptive positive breast cancer. |
| the cancer has spread to other areas. The affected | | | | 5. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy, or use of chemicals |
| breast is surgically removed.c. Lymph Node Dissection: | | | | to treat a disease, is a systematic therapy. Since the |
| This is the surgical removal of lymph nodes. Usually | | | | use of chemicals affects the whole body by going |
| done in case of invasive breast cancer, it is a | | | | through the blood stream, it is very effective as it |
| procedure performed at the time of mastectomy or | | | | can act on the cells, which are rapidly dividing. A |
| lumpectomy. During mastectomy, it is an extension | | | | major drawback in this mode of treatment is that |
| of the breast incision (to the armpit area). If done | | | | the drugs act not only on the cancer cells, they act |
| during lumpectomy, a separate incision is performed | | | | on healthy cells as well leading to various side-effects |
| in the armpit. A part or all of the lymph nodes are | | | | like losing hair, nausea, skin diseases and so on. |
| removed. Usually it also involves cutting the nerve | | | | 6. Alternative Therapies: In addition to the above |
| carrying sensation to the area. | | | | modes of treatment, there are many alternative |
| 2. Radiation Therapy: Radiation is a highly targeted | | | | therapies as well e.g. yoga, acupuncture etc. Since |
| and effective way of treatment, which destroys the | | | | sufficient research is not available in respect of such |
| cancer cells. High levels of radiation are sent directly | | | | therapies, it is difficult to come to any decisive |
| to the cancer cells. Radiation therapy undertaken | | | | conclusion. |
| after surgery can also kill those cancer cells that | | | | Since the disease conditions differ from patient to |
| could not be treated by surgery. It can also be | | | | patient, the ideal treatment for an individual would |
| combined with chemotherapy, to relieve pain, or to | | | | depend on various factors. The best mode of |
| shrink the tumor. It is short and relatively easy but | | | | treatment can be formulated with due consultation |
| side affects can also occur. The traditional radiation | | | | between the patient and the doctor. |