Treatment Options
Deciding on a treatment plan for your breast cancer can be complex and depend upon a variety of factors such as your age, general health condition, stage of cancer and personal preferences. Sometimes more than one type of therapy may be used. The following treatment possibilities are available:
Lumpectomy – A lumpectomy is breast-conserving surgery that removes only the tumor and a surrounding area of normal tissue.
Mastectomy – Mastectomy, or surgery to remove the breast, may be performed with or without reconstructive surgery. The most commonly used procedure for ILC cases is modified radical mastectomy, which removes the entire breast and some of the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes. Patients considering breast reconstruction should consult with a plastic surgeon who is an expert in the procedure before having a mastectomy.
Radiation Therapy – Lumpectomy is usually followed by radiation therapy, which can be delivered externally or internally. In external beam radiation, a high energy X-ray machine is used to direct radiation at the tumor. Internal radiation therapy uses small radioactive implants placed directly into the breast.
Hormone Therapy – Hormone therapy is only recommended for women whose cancer cells have certain hormone receptors as determined by laboratory testing. It helps cancer shrink and grow more slowly by keeping the malignant cells from exposure to certain hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Methods used include drugs such as tamoxifen to block the production and effect of the hormones and the removal of the ovaries, the main site of estrogen production.
Chemotherapy – The use of anti-cancer drugs, or chemotherapy, provides a way to slow tumor growth and reduce pain for patients whose cancer has spread. Chemotherapy can work in one of two ways: by keeping the cancer cells from multiplying or by causing the cancer cells to die.
Targeted Therapy – This newest form of anti-cancer therapy targets specific abnormalities within just the cancer cells to slow or stop their growth. The drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) is the best known type of targeted therapy. It is used specifically in cases of breast cancer where the tumor has been shown in laboratory testing to have too much of the protein called HER-2/neu.
You may also consider participating in clinical trials. These investigative studies help doctors learn about new treatments and better ways to use established treatments. Talk with your doctor about the possibility of taking part in a clinical trial in your area.
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