Types of Breast Cancer Treatment
Women and men who have breast cancer have an uncontrolled growth of cells in their breasts. This unhealthy growth is caused by mutations, or abnormal changes that take place in the genetic structure, which is responsible for keeping these cells healthy. Usually, new healthy cells replace older ones in our body as they die. However, gene mutations can alter this system and make too many cells, forming a tumor, which may be benign or malignant. A malignant tumor in the breast is called breast cancer. There are several ways to treat this cancer, and choosing a course of treatment can be overwhelming. Some basic information can help you make an informed choice.
Surgery
In many cases, surgery is the first approach to breast cancer treatment. You and your doctor will review the kinds of surgery and discuss which is best for your type of cancer and with which you feel most comfortable. In some cases, breast cancer patients can choose between mastectomy--when the breast is completely removed-- and lumpectomy--when part of the breast is saved and radiation treatments follow.
The Breast Cancer Organization reports that lumpectomy with radiation is "likely to be equally as effective as mastectomy" for individuals with just one cancer location and a tumor less than 4 centimeters in diameter. The absence of cancerous tissue around the tumor is also a necessity. Your decision will be based on concern about the cancer returning, breast reconstruction and desire to keep your own breast.
Chemotherapy
Any systemic form of treatment using chemicals to halt the rapid growth of cancer cells is called chemotherapy. Although it is generally very effective, possible chemotherapy side effects include reduced white or red blood cell or platelet count, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and loss of hair. These occur because other rapidly dividing cells are also affected. Post-surgery chemotherapy for patients with no sign of cancer in any other location is called adjuvant therapy. It is used to decrease the risk of a returning cancer. Pre-surgery chemotherapy, called neoadjuvant therapy, can reduce larger cancers enough to make lumpectomy effective. Chemotherapy is also used as a main treatment for cancer that has spread outside the breast and underarm area.
Radiation Therapy
In radiation therapy, patients receive exact amounts of high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cell division. While stopping the growth, the radiation also minimizes injury to healthy tissues. Radiation therapy, a proven treatment for breast cancer survival, is given after breast surgery, either alone or along with chemotherapy in order to reduce the cancer's return. Surgeons also use radiation if they feel the tumor cannot be taken out safely, the person's health condition will not permit surgery or the patient requests that surgery not be performed. Radiation treatment is given to patients whose cancer has spread to the brain or bones and/or to reduce pain and other concerns when cancer recurs.
Hormonal Therapy
Hormonal, or anti-estrogen, therapy is not the same as hormone replacement therapy, which may be taken to reduce post-menopausal side effects. Hormonal therapy medicines instead treat breast cancer by reducing or blocking the action of estrogen. Some cells in the breast have hormonal receptors, estrogen or progesterone, which have "told" these cells to grow. When hormones are lowered or cut off from these cells, the risk of cancer returning is reduced. Other cells, which are estrogen- or progesterone-negative, or not produced through hormones, will not be affected by this treatment.
Targeted Therapy
Some breast cancer treatment focuses on specific cancer cell traits, such as a protein permitting cells to grow quickly. These "targeted" therapies will usually cause less harm to healthy cells than a treatment such as chemotherapy. Some of them target antibodies that are like those in the immune system. Three main target therapies for cancer are: Herceptin, chemical name of trastuzumab, targets HER2-positive breast cancers, by keeping cells from knowing where to grow; Tykerb, lapatinib, deters proteins that cause uncontrolled cell growth; and Avastin, bevacizumab, blocks new blood vessel growth, so cancer cells cannot expand and function.
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