How many treatments are there for breast cancer?
In general, there are five treatment options, and most treatment plans include a combination of the following: surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. Some are local, targeting just the area around the tumor.
What are the steps in treating breast cancer?
How Is Breast Cancer Treated?Surgery. An operation where doctors cut out cancer tissue.Chemotherapy. Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer cells. ... Hormonal therapy. Blocks cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow.Biological therapy. ... Radiation therapy.
How many stages are there in cancer treatment?
Most types of cancer have four stages: stage I (1) to IV (4). Some cancers also have a stage 0 (zero). Here is a general description of cancer stage groupings. (Please see the guide for a specific type of cancer for details about its detailed staging system.)
How many steps are in breast cancer?
There are 5 major stages of breast cancer: stage 0 (zero), which is non-invasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and stages I through IV (1 through 4), which are used for invasive breast cancer. The stage provides a common way of describing the cancer, so doctors can work together to plan the best treatments.
How many types of treatment are there?
Three principal types of medical treatment Curative – to cure a patient of an illness. Palliative – to relieve symptoms from an illness. Preventative – to avoid the onset of an illness.
How many chemo treatments are required for breast cancer?
Typically, you receive chemotherapy in cycles. You may receive chemo every week or every two, three or even four weeks. Cycles are usually two to three treatments long. Each cycle includes a rest period to allow your body to recover.
Can Stage 3 breast cancer be cured?
Because stage 3 breast cancer has spread outside the breast, it can be harder to treat than earlier stage breast cancer, though that depends on a few factors. With aggressive treatment, stage 3 breast cancer is curable; however, the risk that the cancer will grow back after treatment is high.
Can Stage 4 cancer be cured?
Stage 4 cancer usually can't be cured. In addition, because it will have spread throughout the body, it is unlikely it can be completely removed. The goal of treatment is to prolong survival and improve quality of life.
Can Stage 3 cancer be cured?
Stage 3 cancers require expert care and likely a lot of it. Though some stage 3 cancers can be cured, they are more likely to come back after going away. Doctors use cancer stages to compare patients with similar diagnoses.
Is 4 cycles of chemo enough for breast cancer?
Four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy are sufficient for most breast cancer patients, according to results of a Phase III trial of 3,173 women reported at the CTCR-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
How is Stage 3 breast cancer treated?
Chemotherapyis a common treatment for stage III breast cancer. Sometimes people have chemo before surgery to shrink a tumor and make it easier to remove. It can help destroy cancer cells that remain after surgery. In cases where surgery isn't an option, chemotherapy may be the main treatment.
Does Stage 1 breast cancer need chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is not usually offered for stage 1 breast tumours. It may be offered after surgery (called adjuvant therapy) for these tumours if there is a high risk that the cancer will come back (recur). Find out more about the risk of breast cancer recurrence and adjuvant therapy.
Fellow
This type of doctor is doing postgraduate studies specializing in the care of patients with breast cancer.
Patient Access Representative (PAS)
This team member greets you at the front desk and registers you for your appointments.
Attending physician
This doctor supervises doctors in training or in medical school. An attending physician may be your surgeon, medical oncologist, or radiation oncol...
Nurse coordinator (RN) or multidisciplinary care coordinator (MCC)
These specialized registered nurses provide one-on-one support to guide you through your breast cancer journey. MCCs serve as your point of contact...
Patient flow coordinator/Medical Scribe
This staff member supports you and your care team by recording details of your clinic visits, which may include your current medical condition, you...
Medical student
This health care provider is a student enrolled in Stanford’s medical school who is studying to become a doctor.
Advanced practice provider (APP)
This health care provider works in collaboration with your medical oncologist to help care for you during your treatment and follow up. An APP can...
Infusion treatment area (ITA) scheduler
If you are prescribed to have any injections, blood infusions, or chemotherapy, your infusion treatment area (ITA) scheduler will schedule these ap...
Resident
This doctor has graduated from medical school and is in training (also called residency) at Stanford. Residents in their first year are also called...
Clinical administrative assistant (CAA)
This team member helps with nonmedical issues such as scheduling your appointments, managing your paperwork, and requesting your medical records an...
What is the treatment for stage 1 breast cancer?
Local therapy (surgery and radiation therapy) Surgery is the main treatment for stage I breast cancer. These cancers can be treated with either breast-conserving surgery (BCS; sometimes called lumpectomy or partial mastectomy) or mastectomy.
What are the stages of breast cancer?
Most women with breast cancer in stages I to III will get some kind of drug therapy as part of their treatment. This may include: 1 Chemotherapy 2 Hormone therapy (tamoxifen, an aromatase inhibitor, or one followed by the other) 3 HER2 targeted drugs, such as trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta) 4 Some combination of these
What is the treatment for BCS?
Women who have BCS are treated with radiation therapy after surgery. Women who have a mastectomy are typically treated with radiation if the cancer is found in the lymph nodes.
How big is a stage 3 breast tumor?
In stage III breast cancer, the tumor is large (more than 5 cm or about 2 inches across) or growing into nearby tissues (the skin over the breast or the muscle underneath), or the cancer has spread to many nearby lymph nodes.
Can you get radiation therapy before mastectomy?
If you were initially diagnosed with stage II breast cancer and were given treatment such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy before surgery, radiation therapy might be recommended if cancer is found in the lymph nodes at the time of the mastectomy.
Can you get a mastectomy with a large breast?
For women with fairly large breasts, BCS may be an option if the cancer hasn’t grown into nearby tissues. SLNB may be an option for some patients, but most will need an ALND.
Can breast reconstruction be done at the same time as breast surgery?
In some cases, breast reconstruction can be done at the same time as the surgery to remove the cancer.
What are the different types of breast cancer treatment?
a. There are three main types of treatment for breast cancer: surgery, drug therapy, and radiation therapy. A combination of treatment types may be recommended to take place in a specific order to best treat your specific condition.
What is the treatment for breast cancer?
Drug therapy, also called systemic or medical therapy, is treatment that works throughout the body to fight breast cancer. These drugs slow the growth of cancer cells or destroy them.
What is the specialty of a surgeon who treats cancer?
These surgeons specialize in treating cancer through traditional (open) and minimally invasive surgery. Surgical oncologists perform biopsies (taking tiny tissue samples) to test for cancer. They also surgically remove tumors, some surrounding breast tissue, and lymph nodes to evaluate them for the presence of cancer.
What type of radiation is used for breast cancer?
The types of radiation therapy we use for breast cancer treatment at Stanford include: External radiation uses a machine called a linear accelerator (LINAC) to deliver radiation to the area where the cancer cells are found.
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy is painless treatment that uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to destroy cancer cells. Using the latest technology, we can precisely target tumors and minimize damage to nearby healthy tissue.
What to do after breast cancer diagnosis?
Following a diagnosis of breast cancer, we work carefully to determine the best treatment options for you and to prepare a treatment plan personalized for your needs. We try to maximize treatment success while minimizing the impact that diagnosis and treatment can have on your life.
What are the goals of breast cancer treatment?
Different types of treatment for breast cancer have different goals, such as: Slowing or stopping the growth of cancer. Preventing a return of cancer.
How is breast cancer treated?
Breast cancer is treated in several ways. It depends on the kind of breast cancer and how far it has spread. People with breast cancer often get more than one kind of treatment. Surgery.
What is the best treatment for cancer?
Hormonal therapy. Blocks cancer cells from getting the hormones they need to grow. Biological therapy. Works with your body’s immune system to help it fight cancer cells or to control side effects from other cancer treatments. Radiation therapy. Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer cells.
What is radiation therapy?
Radiation therapy. Using high-energy rays (similar to X-rays) to kill the cancer cells. Doctors from different specialties often work together to treat breast cancer. Surgeons are doctors who perform operations. Medical oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with medicine.
What is clinical trial?
Clinical Trials. Clinical trials use new treatment options to see if they are safe and effective. If you have cancer, you may want to take part. Visit the sites listed below for more information.
What is the second opinion on cancer?
Side effects are how your body reacts to drugs or other treatments. Sometimes people get an opinion from more than one cancer doctor. This is called a “second opinion.”. Getting a second opinion. external icon. may help you choose the treatment that is right for you.
What is the procedure to remove breast cancer cells?
Most people with breast cancer will undergo surgery to remove cancer cells or tumors from the breast and other affected areas. Lumpectomy and mastectomy are two surgical options. Deciding which option to use is based on: the size and location of the primary tumor. personal preference.
What is targeted therapy for breast cancer?
Targeted therapy for breast cancer. Targeted therapy refers to a variety of drugs that enter the bloodstream and treat cancer throughout the body. Targeted therapy drugs aim to attack cancer cells without harming healthy cells, and tend to have fewer side effects than chemotherapy drugs.
What is triple negative breast cancer?
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer that is neither HER2-positive nor hormone-receptor positive.
How long does radiation therapy last for breast cancer?
This treatment can lower the risk of cancer recurrence. Radiation therapy is typically administered 5 days per week over the course of 5 to 7 weeks.
What is breast reconstruction?
In prosthetic reconstruction, a plastic surgeon creates the shape of a breast using an artificial implant filled with either saline or silicone. In tissue flap surgery, a plastic surgeon uses tissue from various parts of your body, like your stomach, back, thighs, or buttocks, to rebuild the shape of your breasts.
How does breast cancer grow?
About 2 of every 3 breast cancer cases are hormone-receptor positive. This means the breast cancer cells grow by attaching to hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Hormone therapy, also called endocrine therapy, stops these hormones from attaching to cancer cells, thus stopping their spread.
How long does breast cancer last?
However, early stages of breast cancer that remain localized are highly treatable — 99 percent of people who receive treatment in the earliest stages of breast cancer live for 5 years or longer after diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society.
What is the treatment for breast cancer?
Breast Cancer Treatments: Radiation Therapy. The stage of a cancer refers to the extent to which it has spread within the body at the time of diagnosis. Staging of cancers is typically done using a variety of tests and imaging studies to look for the extent of the cancer. To accurately determine the stage of a tumor, ...
How big is stage 3 breast cancer?
Share Your Story. Stage III breast cancers are larger (5 cm across or more), have spread into local tissues like the skin or muscle, or have spread to 10 or more nearby lymph nodes. The risk of recurrence of these cancers is high, but a cure remains possible.
What is the most common cancer in women?
What you should know about breast cancer . Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. One in every eight women in the United States develops breast cancer. There are many types of breast cancer that differ in their capability of spreading (metastasize) to other body tissues.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Breast cancer is diagnosed during a physical exam, by a self-exam of the breasts, mammography, ultrasound testing, and biopsy. Treatment of breast cancer depends on the type of cancer and its stage (0-IV) and may involve surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
What is the goal of hormone therapy?
The goal of hormone therapy is to block the body's ability to make hormones or to interfere with the activity of hormones. Two different kinds of hormone therapy may be given.
How long does tamoxifen last?
Tamoxifen therapy is given for five to 10 years. Another drug class used for breast cancer hormone therapy is the aromatase inhibitors (AI). These further reduce levels of estrogen by blocking the conversion of adrenal hormones to estrogen through the process of aromatization in the fat.
Why is breast cancer staging important?
Together with the type of cancer, staging is used to determine the appropriate therapy and to predict chances for survival. To determine if the cancer has spread, several different imaging techniques can be used. Read more about the various procedures that determine breast cancer staging ».
What to do after breast cancer diagnosis?
After a breast cancer diagnosis, you and your doctors will put together a treatment plan specific to your situation, based on your pathology report. Your treatment plan will be made up of one or more specific treatments ...
Can breast cancer cause nausea?
Eating When You Have Nausea and Vomiting. Almost all breast cancer treatments have varying degrees of risk for nausea and vomiting.
How long can you delay breast cancer?
Delaying for a lengthy period of time can be dangerous, with studies finding that those who delay over six months are twice as likely to die from the disease. This is important to keep in mind for those who have breast lumps they are "observing" without a clear diagnosis. Any breast lump needs to be explained.
How soon after a diagnosis can you have surgery?
For women who are young (defined as 15 to 39), a 2013 study in JAMA Surgery suggested that young women should have surgery no more than six weeks after diagnosis and preferably earlier. This study of close to 9,000 women found 5-year survival rates as follows: 4
Can a mastectomie be done for breast cancer?
Newer procedures such as nipple-sparing/skin-sparing mastectomies are a great option for some women, but not all surgeons do these procedures. For young women with breast cancer, time to see a fertility specialist to talk about fertility preservation.
Does triple negative HER2 increase stage?
As noted, tumors that were triple negative or HER2 positive grew much faster. This was also linked to an increase in stage based on size between diagnosis and surgery, with 18 percent of triple-negative tumors increasing (higher tumor size) versus only 2 to 3 percent of estrogen receptor positive tumors changing.
Why is follow up care important for breast cancer?
One goal of follow-up care is to check for a recurrence, which means that the cancer has come back. Treatment for early stage or locally advanced breast cancer is given to eradicate as many cancer cells in the body as possible. However, cancer recurs because small areas of cancer cells that don't respond to treatment may remain undetected in ...
What is a recurrence of breast cancer?
Generally, a recurrence is found when a person has symptoms or an abnormal finding during a physical examination. Annual mammograms are also recommended after a diagnosis of breast cancer. The symptoms depend on where the cancer has recurred and may include: A lump under the arm or along the chest wall.
How do you know if you have breast cancer?
Breast cancer can come back in the breast or other areas of the body. Generally, a recurrence is found when a person has symptoms or an abnormal finding during a physical examination. Annual mammograms are also recommended after a diagnosis of breast cancer. The symptoms depend on where the cancer has recurred and may include: 1 A lump under the arm or along the chest wall 2 Pain that is constant, worsening, and not relieved by over-the-counter medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) 3 Bone, back, neck, or joint pain, fractures, or swelling, which are possible signs of bone metastases 4 Headaches, seizures, dizziness, confusion, personality changes, loss of balance, nausea, vomiting, or changes in vision, which are possible signs of brain metastases 5 Chronic coughing, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing, which are possible symptoms of lung metastases 6 Abdominal pain, itchy skin or rash, or yellow skin and eyes from a condition called jaundice, which may be associated with liver metastases 7 Changes in energy levels, such as feeling ill or extremely tired 8 Having a low appetite and/or weight loss 9 Nausea or vomiting 10 Rash or skin changes on the breast or chest wall 11 Changes in the shape or size of the breast, or swelling in the breast or arm
What does it feel like to have a breast removed?
Having a low appetite and/or weight loss. Nausea or vomiting. Rash or skin changes on the breast or chest wall. Changes in the shape or size of the breast, or swelling in the breast or arm. It is important that your surgeon explain what your breast will feel like after surgery and, when used, radiation therapy.
Why is follow up care important?
Doctors want to keep track of your recovery in the months and years ahead. Follow-up care is also important for screening for other types of cancer. In some instances, patients may be able to visit a survivorship clinic that specializes in the post-treatment needs of people diagnosed with breast cancer.
What is the goal of cancer rehabilitation?
The goal of rehabilitation is to help people regain control over many aspects of their lives and remain as independent and productive as possible. Learn more about cancer rehabilitation. Learn more about the importance of follow-up care.
How long does it take for a person to feel a swollen chest after radiation?
This is a life-long risk for survivors. Long-term effects of radiation therapy. Some survivors experience breathlessness, a dry cough, and/or chest pain 2 to 3 months after finishing radiation therapy. That is because radiation therapy can cause swelling and a hardening or thickening of the lungs called fibrosis.
How to recover from breast cancer surgery?
Keep in mind that the time immediately after a big surgery will be a time of recovery. If you're planning to go away, stick to a familiar place where you know you'll be comfortable and near medical help if you need it. Read more about breast cancer surgery. Return to top.
What to do if you go away from cancer?
If you do go away before, after, or in the midst of treatment, be prepared. Make sure you take important phone numbers with you. Ask your doctor for the name of a doctor in the area where you're going in case of emergency.
How long can you wait to travel after cancer surgery?
If you have an important project at work or a vacation already planned, it's often possible to delay surgery up to several weeks if the cancer is not very aggressive. After surgery, it may be difficult, but not impossible, to travel and stay elsewhere while surgical drains are in place.
Can you delay chemo?
Talk to your doctor -- you may be able to delay the start of chemotherapy if you already have a trip planned, and you will usually be able to miss a treatment and reschedule it according to what works for you. For people with metastatic disease, timing of treatments can usually be more flexible.
Should I postpone radiation treatment?
Rather than interrupting your treatment, it's better to postpone the start of your treatment if you have vacation plans.
Can hormonal therapy interfere with your daily schedule?
Hormonal therapy. Most hormonal therapies are taken in pill form over many years, so they will not interfere with your daily schedule or holidays. Some people experience significant side effects or have trouble managing them, which may affect your routine.
Do you have to take time off work after mastectomy?
Most people will need to take time off from work when they undergo surgery, whether the surgery is a lumpectomy or a mastectomy with reconstruction. The amount of time you take will depend on what type of surgery you receive and how your recovery goes.
