Breast Cancer Treatment

About the Procedure

A wide variety of different treatments exist for breast cancer. Commonly, multiple treatment types are used in conjunction with one another to combat the cancer. Regardless of the course of treatment the objectives are always the same: to remove or kill all known cancerous tissue and prevent further cancerous tissue from forming. Though the exact combination of treatments varies greatly from case to case, it is typical to first undergo some form of surgery to remove the cancerous tissue, followed by a course of regular treatments over a long period to ensure no further cancerous formations.

There are two main surgical options to consider first. One is called a Lumpectomy; also known as breast conservation surgery. This procedure involves removing the cancerous breast tissue, along with a degree of surrounding tissue. This is ideal for patients whose cancer is isolated in one area of the breast or whose tumor size is not very large relative to the size of the breast. The other is a mastectomy, in which the entire breast is removed. There are several different forms of mastectomy, each differentiated from one another based on whether or not the lymph nodes or anterior muscle mass is removed along with the breast. This procedure is chosen if the cancer has metastasized locally to another region of the breast or the lymph nodes.

After one of these surgical procedures have been completed, the next step is a series of ongoing treatments to ensure no further cancer cells have an opportunity to replicate at the cancer site or anywhere else in the body. The most commonly known form of regular treatment is Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is usually started soon after the surgery is completed and, in some cases, before the surgery is even performed. When done prior to the operation, Chemotherapy can reduce the size of the primary tumor, making it easier to operate on.

Chemotherapy consists of introducing drugs into the patient's bloodstream so they can reach the entire body. Many different cancer fighting drugs are used in conjunction and which ones are used is determined on a case by case basis. The drugs are administered intravenously every few weeks, for up to a year.

While Chemotherapy is the most commonly used treatment to prevent further cancerous growth, alternatives do exist. Radiation therapy can also be effective at preventing further cancerous growth at the primary tumor site. In cases where the cancer has definitely not metastisized, radiation therapy can be preferable to Chemotherapy as it is totally painless, non invasive and its side-effects are generally shorter lived and less severe. Radiation therapy works by using x-ray imaging to give the radiation therapist a precise idea of the cancer site, which is then targeted with focused beams of radiation. This ensures that any cancerous cells that may have remained after surgery are killed and that no new cancer cells can form in the irradiated areas.

Another alternative to Chemotherapy is hormone therapy. Certain types of breast cancer require the female hormone estrogen in order to multiply. By taking hormone blocking medications such as Tamoxifen, estrogen levels are suppressed, essentially starving the cancer cells, preventing them from further growth and/or replication.

What to Know Before the Procedure

Cancer is an incredibly diverse and resilient disease and each case poses unique challenges to the patient and the oncologist. Each method of surgery and treatment has pros and cons and there is no one “right” combination of treatments. All forms of cancer treatment come with attached risks and side-effects, some of which can have long term implications on quality of life. In order to treat it effectively, it is vital to have candid conversations with your doctor about your medical history, other pre-existing conditions, your lifestyle, and your personal preferences to determine the best course of action.

What to Know After the Procedure

The suggested recovery practices and possible side-effects of cancer treatment vary wildly upon the type of treatment chosen. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions about how to follow through with recovery and ongoing treatment based upon your particular case. Follow these directions and contact your doctor if any questions or complications arise.

If you Need to Travel Outside of your Local Hospital

Cancer treatment is a prolonged, multiple session affair that requires constant communication between the patient and the doctor. This must be considered when determining where to have treatment performed. Ideally, you will want to work with the same doctor and the same team throughout the process to ensure complete understanding and consistency from beginning to end. At the same time, you also want to work with the most highly qualified team available to you. These factors should be the most heavily weighted when deciding whether/where you should travel to have your cancer treated.