It is estimated that about one in eight American women will develop invasive breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with breast cancer our cancer team is here to make sure you have the best treatment options at your disposal. While we offer a lot of choices when it comes to treating your breast cancer it’s important that you take the time you need to decide which options are right for you.
There are several treatments available for breast cancer and the treatment that is best for you will depend on what stage your cancer is. Many women will require surgery in order to remove the tumor, but depending on how advanced your cancer is and the type you have you may also require additional treatments. It’s common for women to need more than one type of therapy.
Local therapies or treatments are focused on treating the tumor without affecting the rest of the body. This includes treatment options like radiation therapy or surgery. These are more commonly used in those with earlier stages of cancer.
Breast cancer can also be treated with drugs. This systemic treatment is able to reach cancer cells throughout the body. Common types of systemic treatments include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy.
For non-invasive breast cancer, there are several options including a mastectomy (removing the breast), breast-conserving surgery (to remove the tumor and the breast tissue around it), post-surgical hormone therapy (which lowers the risk of both non-invasive and invasive breast cancer occurring in the future).
For invasive breast cancers the type of treatment will depend on which stage your cancer is in:
Stage I: Cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes and is small. Surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy are common treatment options.
Stage II: This cancer is larger than stage I cancer and has begun to spread to the lymph nodes. Surgery and radiation therapy, as well as chemotherapy and other drugs are commonly recommended.
Stage III: Stage III tumors are larger and at this point, cancer has often spread to many lymph nodes and tissue. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, hormone therapy and other cancer-specific drugs are often used.
Stage IV: This is when the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. For stage IV breast cancer, systemic treatments are the most effective. This includes hormone therapy, chemotherapy, drugs or a combination of these.
Have you just been diagnosed with breast cancer? Not sure of your options? Then let us provide you with comforting, compassionate care you can rely on. You don’t have to do this alone. Our team of medical professionals is here to help treat your breast cancer. Call us today at 808-313-8338 to schedule your consultation.