Treatment Options for Breast Cancer

There are many treatment options for breast cancer. Your doctor will study your pathology report closely and Taylor your treatment options accordingly. These factors must be taken into consideration when planning your treatment:

• The size of your tumor
• Knowledge of any lymph node involvement
• The stage of your tumor
• The location of your tumor
• Aggressiveness of your specific form of breast cancer
• YOUR level of comfort in treating YOUR breast cancer

Once all of these factors have been heavily considered, you and your doctor will design your customized treatment plan. It is important to learn more about all of the available treatment options.

Breast Surgery

Breast surgery is one of the most common treatment options. It is almost always a necessary requirement for the removal of the breast cancer. There are several types of breast cancer surgeries. They are:

• Breast Lumpectomy
• Simple Mastectomy
• Radical Mastectomy

Click here to learn more about the specifics about Surgery options for breast cancer

Checking for Metastasis

It is very important for your doctor to know if your breast cancer has spread to other tissues in your body. To check for metastasis, your doctor will need to test your nearby lymph nodes. Click here to learn more about Lymph Node Testing

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of cancer-fighting medications that are used to kill cancer cells. Not all types of Breast Cancer require the use of Chemotherapy, however, most do. It is a very common treatment option that most cancers require.

Chemotherapy is a field that is always changing and becoming more effective in treating breast cancer. Although it is greatly improved from the 'old days' it is still considered a drug with many possible side effects.

Some side effects of Chemotherapy are:

• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Muscle Cramps
• Hair Loss
• Numbness or pain in the hands or feet
• Menopausal Symptoms

Click here to learn about ways to overcome Chemotherapy symptoms

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy beams of radiation to kill cancerous cells. This is a very common form of treatment for those women who choose to have breast conservation surgery. Radiation therapy is sometimes used before a woman has surgery to remove her breast cancer. The purpose of pre-surgery radiation therapy is to shrink the tumor and kill the cancerous cells in the tumor to allow for easier and less risky surgeries. This is typically done with larger tumors which may be difficult to remove.

There are two types of Radiation therapy: Internal and External

Internal Radiation Therapy: This is administered with the use of small radioactive implants. These can be put into the cancerous area of the breast by the use of special devices. These implants stay in place for several days. This does require the woman to be in the hospital during her treatment. After the treatment is complete, the implants are removed.

External Radiation Therapy: This type of treatment is done in a specialized radiation therapy department. The radiation is emitted from a specialized machine and is systematically given only in the cancerous area of the breast. Typically external treatments options last for several days each week for several weeks in a row.

Side effects of Radiation Therapy include:

• Skin changes similar to that of a bad sunburn
• Heaviness and tightness of the breast
• Fatigue
• Weeping and oozing of the breast tissue

Typically most of these side effects go away when radiation is no longer being used. Click here to learn more about methods to treat your symptoms from radiation therapy.

Surgical Reconstruction with Breast Cancer

After all, treatment is complete, you are now able to make a decision about your surgical reconstruction options. Not every patient feels the need for reconstruction of her breast and that is perfectly acceptable.

If you are interested in the options for Surgical Reconstruction of your breast.

Clinical Trials

Some patients have the desire to take part in a clinical trial. By choosing to participate in clinical trials, you may be able to get additional treatment options for your breast cancer.

If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, click here to learn more.