A breast cancer diagnosis is followed by many questions and one of the first is, "What is the treatment for breast cancer?" Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for every type and stage of breast cancer today however, no one treatment is right for everyone. Often, more than one form of treatment is required depending on the type of cancer, its stage and desired outcomes. Generally, cancers in an early stage respond best to treatment. Advanced stage cancers, those that have spread to other organs, reach a point where they can no longer be cured. The focus of treatment, at this point, is to control the spread of cancer and relieve any symptoms caused by the cancer.
There are two classifications of treatment for breast cancer. One is local, which means treating the tumor directly, and the other is systemic, a treatment that fights cancer throughout the entire body. Drugs are systemic therapies.
The most commonly used treatments for breast cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and biologic or immunotherapy. Both surgery and radiation are local treatments. They are used to remove, destroy or control cancer cells. The first line of defense is often surgery. In the past, surgery usually meant a mastectomy or removal of the entire breast. Today, a procedure known as a lumpectomy, removal of the tumor only, is much more common. A lumpectomy is usually performed when the cancer is found early, the lump is small and in only one part of the breast. Once cancer cells have spread, a mastectomy is more effective in removing most or all of the cells.
Radiation is another local treatment and often follows surgery. In some instances, it is used to shrink a large tumor before it is surgically removed. It is a relatively simple, effective, and well-tolerated therapy. Radiation targets a specific area and is designed to kill cancer cells.
Systemic treatments are used to destroy or control cancer cells that have spread throughout the body. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biologic or immunotherapy are systemic treatments. These are all drug therapies. Chemotherapy is probably the most well known. There are more than 100 different drugs available. One or more of these drugs is given intravenously (into a vein), by mouth in pill form, or with a shot. Side effects can range from mild to significant, but many people tolerate chemotherapy quite well.
Some cancers require natural hormones that occur in the body to grow and spread. Hormone therapy is the use of hormones or hormone-like drugs to stop the body's natural hormones from working effectively. Treatment can include medications or surgery. This treatment is different than hormone replacement therapy, which is used to treat menopause.
Research indicates that the body's immune system may distinguish normal cells from cancer cells. An abnormal or overwhelmed immune system may allow cancer cells to develop. Biologic or immunotherapy is used to stimulate the body's own immune system to better fight the cancer cells.
This is just a brief overview in answer to every patient's question, "What is the treatment for breast cancer?" In short, there is no "one-size-fits-all" line of attack against cancer. Each treatment is as individual as the person receiving it. Ask your doctor before making any decisions on which type of treatment is best for you. With research, new treatments continue to evolve. Know what is happening with breast cancer research and new treatments. The next one may be the cure.
I have been interested in cancer since my brother Jerry was diagnosed with colon cancer five years ago. After two surgeries he is doing well and is still cancer free. The first surgery was to remove a large tumor from his colon and the second was to remove his colon. Needless to say he has been through a lot and the road to recovery was a long one. About two years ago my brother Fred was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Man, you talk about devastating! Well after about a month or two the shock started to ware off and treatments started to begin. My brother Fred was in denial for, what seemed to be a long time. I wanted to write about both of my brothers cancers but, decided against it thinking it would hurt them some how so I decided to write about cancers that no one in the family has as of yet. If you'd like to send a massage of support to my brothers Jerry and Fred, leave a comment here and I'll see that they get it. If you'd like more information on breast cancer treatment, please click this link. http://www.understanding-breast-cancer-treatment.com
P.S. My brother Fred is doing well. The chemo the doctors used on him shrunk the tumor until it was off the radar. We're not sure its gone but we know that its not growing, at least for now.
