Treatment FAQ

what are breast cancer treatment

by Abagail Jerde Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Most women undergo surgery for breast cancer and many also receive additional treatment after surgery, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy or radiation. Chemotherapy might also be used before surgery in certain situations.Apr 27, 2022

Medication

Which natural treatments can help people with breast cancer?

  • Acupuncture. Acupuncture may relieve nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy. ...
  • Massage therapy. Massage therapy is the process of manually stimulating the tissues in the skin and muscles. ...
  • Tai chi and qi gong. ...
  • Biofeedback. ...
  • Reiki. ...
  • Diet. ...
  • Supplements. ...
  • Cannabis. ...
  • Holistic therapies. ...
  • Medical treatment for breast cancer. ...

More items...

Procedures

Breast cancer is a very common form of cancer that usually affects women in their 40s and 50s. Breast cancer can be very dangerous because it tends to grow fast and spread to other organs, most commonly the lymph nodes. If left untreated, breast cancer can lead to death or severe complications from chemotherapy. Treatment Options for Breast Cancer

Therapy

The Top 10 Natural Cancer Cures

  • Physical Activity. Participating in any type of physical activity will help most people who are following a protocol that they believe is consistent with the best natural cancer cure that ...
  • Nutrition. ...
  • Acupuncture. ...
  • Yoga. ...
  • Meditation. ...
  • Music therapy. ...
  • Massage. ...

Nutrition

The report identified key ways to improve quality of care:

  • Ensure cancer patients understand their diagnoses so they can make informed treatment decisions with their health care providers
  • Develop a trained and coordinated workforce of cancer professionals
  • Focus on evidence-based care
  • Focus on quality measures
  • Provide accessible and affordable care for all

Which natural treatments can help people with breast cancer?

What is breast cancer and how it can be treated?

What is a natural way to treat breast cancer?

How do you cure breast cancer?

See more

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What are the types of treatment for breast cancer?

People with breast cancer often get more than one kind of treatment.Surgery. An operation where doctors cut out cancer tissue.Chemotherapy. Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer cells. ... Hormonal therapy. ... Biological therapy. ... Radiation therapy.

What is the most popular treatment for breast cancer?

The most common form of treatment for breast cancer is surgery. This involves removing the tumor and nearby margins. Surgical options may include a lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, radical mastectomy, and reconstruction.

What are four treatments of breast cancer?

It may also spread to the brain or other organs. For women with stage IV breast cancer, systemic drug therapies are the main treatments....Treatment of Stage IV (Metastatic) Breast CancerHormone therapy.Chemotherapy (chemo)Targeted drugs.Immunotherapy.Some combination of these.

What is 1 treatment option for a patient who has breast cancer?

Summary of surgical options. To summarize, surgical treatment options include the following: Removal of cancer in the breast: Lumpectomy or partial mastectomy, generally followed by radiation therapy if the cancer is invasive. Mastectomy may also be recommended, with or without immediate reconstruction.

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.

Can you cure breast cancer without chemo?

A federally funded study has found that many women with the most common type of early stage breast cancer likely do not need chemotherapy after surgery.

How long is breast cancer treatment?

Typically, if you have early-stage breast cancer, you'll undergo chemotherapy treatments for three to six months, but your doctor will adjust the timing to your circumstances. If you have advanced breast cancer, treatment may continue beyond six months.

Do you need chemo for Stage 1 breast cancer?

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.

Where does breast cancer spread first?

The lymph nodes under your arm, inside your breast, and near your collarbone are among the first places breast cancer spreads. It's “metastatic” if it spreads beyond these small glands to other parts of your body.

What is treatment for early stage breast cancer?

Surgery. Surgery is usually the first step in treating early breast cancer. You may have mastectomy (the entire breast is removed) or lumpectomy (only the tumor and some surrounding tissue are removed).

What are the 4 stages of breast cancer?

The 4 stages of breast cancerStage I: It is divided into two groups. ... Stage II: It is divided into two groups. ... Stage III: Cancer hasn't spread to bones or organs. ... Stage IV: Breast cancer cells have spread far away from the breast and lymph nodes around it.

At what stage of breast cancer the breast is removed?

Larger tumors in later stages can spread to muscle, skin and lymph nodes around the breast. Surgery for stage three and stage four cancer generally requires removing the entire breast and nearby tissue affected by the 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 treatment for cancer?

Chemotherapy. Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer cells. The drugs can be pills you take or medicines given in your veins, or sometimes both.

What are the different types of doctors who treat breast cancer?

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. Radiation oncologists are doctors who treat cancer with radiation.

What is biological therapy?

Biological therapy. Works with your body’s immune system to help it fight cancer cells or to control side effects from other cancer treatments.

How to choose the right cancer treatment?

Choosing the treatment that is right for you may be hard. Talk to your cancer doctor about the treatment options available for your type and stage of cancer. Your doctor can explain the risks and benefits of each treatment and their side effects . Side effects are how your body reacts to drugs or other treatments.

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 complementary medicine?

Complementary and alternative medicine are medicines and health practices that are not standard cancer treatments. Complementary medicine is used in addition to standard treatments, and alternative medicine is used instead of standard treatments. Meditation, yoga, and supplements like vitamins and herbs are some examples.

When will breast cancer stage be available?

Complete information about your cancer's stage may not be available until after you undergo breast cancer surgery.

What is the best test for breast cancer?

Tests and procedures used to diagnose breast cancer include: Breast exam. Your doctor will check both of your breasts and lymph nodes in your armpit, feeling for any lumps or other abnormalities. Mammogram. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are commonly used to screen for breast cancer.

How to determine if a breast lump is a solid mass or a fluid filled cyst?

Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of structures deep within the body. Ultrasound may be used to determine whether a new breast lump is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst. Removing a sample of breast cells for testing (biopsy). A biopsy is the only definitive way to make a diagnosis of breast cancer.

How does a doctor determine breast cancer?

Your doctor determines your breast cancer treatment options based on your type of breast cancer, its stage and grade, size, and whether the cancer cells are sensitive to hormones. Your doctor also considers your overall health and your own preferences.

What is the procedure for breast MRI?

The table slides into the large opening of the MRI machine. Tests and procedures used to diagnose breast cancer include: Breast exam.

Why are cancer drugs used after surgery?

Some medications are used after surgery to reduce the risk that the cancer will return. Others are used in cases of advanced breast cancer to slow the growth of the tumor.

Why is chemotherapy given before surgery?

The goal is to shrink a tumor to a size that makes it easier to remove with surgery. Chemotherapy is also used in women whose cancer has already spread to other parts of the body.

What is the treatment for stage IV breast cancer?

Treatment for stage IV breast cancer is usually a systemic (drug) therapy.

Which stage of breast cancer is larger?

Stage II: These breast cancers are larger than stage I cancers and/or have spread to a few nearby lymph nodes.

What is stage 0 breast cancer?

Stage 0 means that the cancer is limited to the inside of the milk duct and is non-invasive. Treatment for this non-invasive breast tumor is often different from the treatment of invasive breast cancer. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a stage 0 breast tumor. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) used to be categorized as stage 0, ...

Is lobular carcinoma in situ a stage 0 tumor?

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a stage 0 breast tumor. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) used to be categorized as stage 0, but this has been changed because it is not cancer. Still, it does indicate a higher risk of breast cancer. See Lobular Carcinoma in Situ (LCIS) for more information.

What is breast cancer?

Key Points. Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. A family history of breast cancer and other factors increase the risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer is sometimes caused by inherited gene mutations (changes).

What is the most common type of breast cancer?

The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, which begins in the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular carcinoma and is more often found in both breasts than are other types of breast cancer.

How does cancer spread?

Cancer can spread through tissue, the lymph system, and the blood:

Why do breasts feel warm?

The redness and warmth occur because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin. The skin of the breast may also show the dimpled appearance called peau d’orange (like the skin of an orange). There may not be any lumps in the breast that can be felt. Inflammatory breast cancer may be stage IIIB, stage IIIC, or stage IV.

What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

Risk factors for breast cancer include the following: A personal history of invasive breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). A personal history of benign (noncancer) breast disease.

Why do cancer tests have to be repeated?

Some tests will be repeated in order to see how well the treatment is working. Decisions about whether to continue, change, or stop treatment may be based on the results of these tests.

How much of breast cancer is hereditary?

The genes in cells carry the hereditary information that is received from a person’s parents. Hereditary breast cancer makes up about 5% to 10% of all breast cancer. Some mutated genes related to breast cancer are more common in certain ethnic groups.

What is the best treatment for breast cancer?

Hormone therapy uses drugs to prevent hormones, especially estrogen, from fueling the growth of breast cancer cells. Medicines include tamoxifen ( Nolvadex) for women before and after menopause and aromatase inhibitors including anastrozole ( Arimidex ), exemestane ( Aromasin ), and letrozole ( Femara) for postmenopausal women.

What is the goal of breast cancer treatment?

All breast cancer treatments have two main goals: To rid your body of as much of the cancer as possible . To keep the disease from coming back.

How Do I Know Which Breast Cancer Treatment to Choose?

Your doctor will think about a few things before they recommend a treatment for you:

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. You take the medicines as pills or through an IV. Most people get it after surgery to kill any cancer cells left behind. Doctors also prescribe it before surgery to make tumors smaller. Chemo works well against cancer, but it also can harm healthy cells.

How does breast cancer affect emotions?

The experience of breast cancer will have an effect on your emotions. You may feel tired, frustrated, angry, and sad at different times. Depression is a normal part of the breast cancer experience. Chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and some pain medications can help cause these feelings or make them worse.

What do doctors think about before they recommend a treatment for breast cancer?

Your doctor will think about a few things before they recommend a treatment for you: The type of breast cancer you have. The size of your tumor and how far the cancer has spread in your body, called the stage of your disease.

How long does it take to get a breast prosthesis fitted?

Make an appointment with a breast prosthesis consultant and allow yourself about an hour to get fitted.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Alternative Medicine

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Khutaija Bano
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Treatment is primarily based on the type and stage of cancer.
Medication

Chemotherapy: Drugs may be recommended before or after the surgery to reduce the mass size and prevent spread or recurrence.

Capecitabine . Carboplatin . Doxorubicin . Vinorelbine


Hormone therapy: Drugs used in hormone therapy help in regulating the proliferation of hormone sensitive cancer cells and prevent the production of hormones or reduce their action.

Raloxifene . Tamoxifen . Fulvestrant . Leuprolide

Procedures

Lumpectomy: The entire tumor mass and some of the surrounding healthy tissues are removed.

Mastectomy: Removal of the entire breast tissue, sometimes including the nipple and the pigmented area around it.

Breast reconstruction: May be considered using implants or one’s own tissues.

Therapy

Radiation therapy:- Uses high-powered energy rays to destroy cancer cells. - Can be done using a machine or by implanting a radioactive material inside the tumor mass.

Nutrition

Food to eat:

  • Foods rich in fiber such as whole grains, beans and legumes
  • Foods rich in vitamin D like beef liver, cheese and egg yolk
  • Low fat dairy products and milk
  • Foods with anti-inflammatory properties like spices

Foods to avoid:

  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Foods with high sugar content like sodas, candies and sweets
  • Foods with high fat content like fried food, crackers and processed food
  • Red meat

Specialist to consult

Oncologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Breast surgeon
Specializes in surgery of the breasts for benign and malignant breast diseases.

Coping and Support

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Your doctor determines your breast cancer treatment options based on your type of breast cancer, its stage and grade, size, and whether the cancer cells are sensitive to hormones. Your doctor also considers your overall health and your own preferences. Most women undergo surgery for breast cancer and many also receive additional treatment after sur...
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