what are the types of treatment for breast cancer

• There are different types of treatment for patients with breast cancer.
• Six types of standard treatment are used: Surgery Radiation therapy Chemotherapy Hormone therapy Targeted therapy Immunotherapy
• New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials.
• Treatment for breast cancer may cause side effects.
• Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial.
• Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their cancer treatment.
• Follow-up tests may be needed.

Full Answer

What is the most common treatment for breast cancer?

Depending on the type of breast cancer, different types of drug treatment might be used, including: Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer. Targeted Drug Therapy for Breast Cancer. Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer.

Which is the best therapy for breast cancer patients?

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. An operation where doctors cut out cancer tissue. Chemotherapy. Using special medicines to shrink or kill the cancer cells.

What are the best medications for breast cancer?

May 18, 2021 · Chemotherapy drugs kill or disable cancer cells. For people with early breast cancer, chemotherapy is usually given after breast surgery, but before radiation therapy. Neoadjuvant (before surgery) chemotherapy. In people with large tumors who need a mastectomy, chemotherapy may be used before surgery. This is called neoadjuvant …

Which natural treatments can help people with breast cancer?

Apr 14, 2022 · There are different types of treatment for patients with breast cancer. Six types of standard treatment are used: Surgery ; Radiation therapy Chemotherapy ; Hormone therapy Targeted therapy; Immunotherapy; New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials. Treatment for breast cancer may cause side effects.

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Which Treatments Are Used For Breast Cancer?

There are several ways to treat breast cancer, depending on its type and stage.Local treatments: Some treatments are local, meaning they treat the...

How Is Breast Cancer Typically Treated?

Most women with breast cancer will have some type of surgery to remove the tumor. Depending on the type of breast cancer and how advanced it is, yo...

Who Treats Breast Cancer?

Doctors on your cancer treatment team might include: 1. A breast surgeon or surgical oncologist: a doctor who uses surgery to treat breast cancer 2...

Making Treatment Decisions

It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decisi...

Help Getting Through Breast Cancer Treatment

Your cancer care team will be your first source of information and support, but there are many places you can get more help if you need it. Hospita...

What do people with cancer need?

People with cancer need support and information, no matter what stage of illness they may be in. Knowing all of your options and finding the resources you need will help you make informed decisions about your care.

What are the services offered by the American Cancer Society?

These might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, nutritional advice, rehab, or spiritual help. The American Cancer Society also has programs and services – including rides to treatment, lodging, and more – to help you get through treatment.

Why do we do clinical trials?

Clinical trials are carefully controlled research studies that are done to get a closer look at promising new treatments or procedures . Clinical trials are one way to get state-of-the art cancer treatment. In some cases they may be the only way to get access to newer treatments. They are also the best way for doctors to learn better methods to treat cancer. Still, they're not right for everyone.

What does "local" mean in cancer treatment?

Some treatments are local, meaning they treat the tumor without affecting the rest of the body.

Why is it important to discuss treatment options with your doctor?

Making treatment decisions. It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. It’s also very important to ask questions if there's anything you’re not sure about.

What is complementary medicine?

Complementary methods refer to treatments that are used along with your regular medical care. Alternative treatments are used instead of a doctor’s medical treatment.

What is the name of the doctor who treats cancer?

A breast surgeon or surgical oncologist: a doctor who uses surgery to treat breast cancer. A radiation oncologist: a doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer. A medical oncologist: a doctor who uses chemotherapy and other medicines to treat 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.

How to treat breast cancer?

Make thoughtful, informed decisions that are best for you. Each treatment option has risks and benefits to consider along with your own values and lifestyle. Breast cancer treatment can be divided into local therapy and systemic therapy.

What is the treatment for inflammatory breast cancer?

People with locally-advanced or inflammatory breast cancer usually begin treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Learn about chemotherapy drugs. Learn about going through chemotherapy. Learn about the short-term side effects of chemotherapy. Learn about the long-term side effects of chemotherapy.

What is HER2 targeted therapy?

The HER2 protein is an important part of the pathway for cell growth and survival. HER2-targeted therapies are used to treat HER2-positive breast cancers.

What is the name of the surgery that removes a tumor from the breast?

Lumpectomy (also called breast-conserving surgery, partial mastectomy or wide excision). The tumor and a small rim of normal tissue around the tumor are removed. The rest of the breast remains intact.

What is the goal of radiation therapy?

The goal of radiation therapy is to kill any cancer cells that might be left in or around the breast after surgery. These cells are too small to see on scans or to be measured with lab tests. Learn about going through radiation therapy. Learn about the side effects of radiation therapy.

What is the goal of treating early breast cancer?

Important information about coronavirus (COVID-19). The goal of treating early breast cancer is to get rid of the cancer and keep it from coming back. Together, you and your health care provider make breast cancer treatment decisions. After you get a recommended treatment plan from your provider, take time to study your treatment options.

When is chemo given for breast cancer?

For people with early breast cancer, chemotherapy is usually given after breast surgery, but before radiation therapy.

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.

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 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.

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 name of the disease where malignant cells form in the tissues of the breast?

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. The breast is made up of lobes and ducts. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes. Each lobe has many smaller sections called lobules. Lobules end in dozens of tiny bulbs that can make milk.

Why do we do clinical trials?

Clinical trials are done to find out if new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard treatment.

How do you know if you have breast cancer?

Signs of breast cancer include a lump or change in the breast. Tests that examine the breasts are used to diagnose breast cancer. If cancer is found, tests are done to study the cancer cells. Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

What is the treatment for stage 1 breast cancer?

Treatment for stages I to III breast cancer usually includes surgery and radiation therapy, often with chemo or other drug therapies either before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery. Stage I: These breast cancers are still relatively small and either have not spread to the lymph nodes or have only a tiny area of cancer spread in ...

What is recurrent breast cancer?

Recurrent breast cancer. Cancer is called recurrent when it comes back after primary treatment. Recurrence can be local (in the same breast or in the surgery scar), regional (in nearby lymph nodes), or in a distant area. Treatment for recurrent breast cancer depends on where the cancer recurs and what treatments you’ve had before.

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.

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 targeted drug therapy?

Targeted Drug Therapy allows physicians to personalize treatment for certain types and/or stages of breast cancer. These targeted drugs can be delivered alone or in combination with other treatments, including hormone and chemotherapy.

What percentage of women have BRCA1 mutations?

On average, 72 percent of women who have BRCA1 mutations and 69 percent who have mutated BRCA2 genes will develop breast cancer before the age of 80. Cancers with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations can be treated with PARP inhibitors.

What is HER2 treatment?

HER2 – positive breast cancer is routinely treated with targeted therapy to stop cancer cells from growing and/or helping to direct chemotherapy to the cancer cells. Targeted therapies for breast cancer include:

How long does radiation treatment take?

Radiation comes from a machine outside of the body and focuses on the area which has cancer. Painless. Actual procedure time only takes a few minutes, set-up time usually takes longer. Possible side effects.

Can breast cancer be treated?

Treatment. Now more than ever, health care providers can treat breast cancer in many different ways. Each individual’s treatment may depend on the stage of breast cancer they have and the plan their doctor recommends. In this section, we will discuss the different types of treatments that are available in the fight against breast cancer.

Can you have both breasts removed after a double mastectomy?

In some cases, both breasts are entirely removed ( double mastectomy). Can be used as a preventative measure in women who are at high risk for breast cancer. Reconstructive Surgery is a procedure done to restore the appearance of the breast after a mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery. Expand.

Does chemo help with triple negative breast cancer?

For many patients, chemotherapy alone may be ineffective against Triple- Negative Breast Cancer.

How to give systemic therapy for breast cancer?

Common ways to give systemic therapies include an intravenous (IV) tube placed into a vein using a needle or in a pill or capsule that is swallowed (orally). The types of systemic therapies used for metastatic breast cancer include: Hormonal therapy. Chemotherapy.

How long can you live with metastatic breast cancer?

Best and longest quality of life possible. There is no cure for metastatic cancer, but a good quality of life is possible for months or even years. Treatment options for metastatic breast cancer vary based on:

How does chemotherapy work?

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells. Chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer can be given on many different schedules depending on what worked best in clinical trials for that specific type of regimen, or schedule.

How does chemotherapy destroy cancer cells?

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by keeping the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and making more cells.

What is a treatment plan?

A treatment plan is a summary of your cancer and the planned cancer treatment. It is meant to give basic information about your medical history to any doctors who will care for you during your lifetime. Before treatment begins, ask your doctor for a copy of your treatment plan.

What is a multidisciplinary team in cancer?

In cancer care, different types of doctors often work together to create a patient’s overall treatment plan that combines different types of treatments. This is called a multidisciplinary team . Breast cancer multidisciplinary care teams typically include medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, and pathologists. In addition, cancer care teams include a variety of other health care professionals, such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, oncology nurses, genetic counselors, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, dietitians, and others. Ask the doctor in charge of your treatment which health care professionals will be part of your treatment team and what they do. This can change over time as your health care needs change.

What is clinical trial?

Clinical trials can test a new drug and how often it should be given, a new combination of standard treatments, or new doses of standard drugs or other treatments . Clinical trials are an option to consider for treatment and care for all stages of cancer. Your doctor can help you consider all your treatment options.