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Today’s breast cancer treatment options offer hope to those facing this life threatening disease. While there are treatments available for every type and stage of breast cancer, no one treatment is right for every person. The most commonly used treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and biological therapy. More than one type of treatment is often required. Breast cancer treatments are classified as either local, treating the tumor directly, or systemic, a therapy that affects the entire body, such as drug treatments.
Both surgery and radiation are local treatments and are used to remove, destroy or control cancer cells. Typically, the fight against breast cancer begins with surgery. A lumpectomy, removal of the tumor, or mastectomy, removal of the entire breast, may be recommended. A lumpectomy is usually performed when the cancer is found early, the lump is small and in only one part of the breast. A mastectomy is a typical procedure when cancer cells have spread throughout the breast or into other areas of the body.
Radiation is another local treatment and often follows a lumpectomy or mastectomy. It’s used to target a specific area and is designed to kill any remaining cancer cells. While it may seem a bit scary, the actual radiation treatment is painless. A typical course of treatment is five days a week for up to seven weeks.
Treatments classified as systemic are used to destroy or control cancer cells throughout the body. These include chemotherapy, hormone therapy and biological therapy. Chemotherapy is probably the most well known of these. Basically, it is treatment with one or more medications that are designed to destroy cancer cells throughout the body. There are many kinds of chemotherapy drugs used today and side effects range from mild to significant. Many people actually tolerate chemotherapy quite well.
Some types of cancers need certain hormones in the body to grow and spread. Hormone therapy is used to keep these cancer cells from getting the hormones they need. Treatment can be either medications or surgery to reduce the level of hormone that feeds these cells. This treatment should not be confused with 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. Biological therapy, also known as immunotherapy, works in one of two ways. It can help boost the body's immune system to fight cancer or help control the side effects from other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.
Breast cancer treatments can vary greatly from person to person. There is no “one-size-fits-all” line of attack. A new emerging therapy is a tiny radiation balloon that kills any remaining cancer cells from inside the breast. Exciting new treatments like this continue to evolve as ongoing research and technological advances suggest a promising outlook for those with breast cancer.
Note: This website is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice and does not provide advice on treatments or conditions for individual patients. All health and treatment decisions must be made in consultation with your physician(s), utilizing your specific medical information. The links set out on this web site are provided for your convenience only.
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