According to the American Cancer Society, infiltrating (or invasive) ductal carcinoma accounts for approximately 80 percent of all invasive breast cancers. It generally begins in the breast's duct, breaking through the duct walls to spread into surrounding tissues and even beyond the breast. There are several treatment options available.
Types of Treatment
Treatment options fall into one of two categories: local and systemic. Local treatments provide direct treatment to the tumor and surrounding tissues and include surgery and/or radiation. Systemic treatments are spread throughout your body to eradicate any cancerous cells and include chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
Local Treatments
Surgical options for invasive breast cancer include a lumpectomy (removing only the lump and surrounding tissues) or a mastectomy (removing the entire affected breast). Radiation is often used in conjunction with other treatments and may be used if the tumor is large or has spread to the lymph nodes.
Systemic Treatment
Chemotherapy utilizes cancer-killing medications which travel in your blood stream to destroy the infiltrative cancer cells throughout your body. Hormone therapy can be used for cancers which test positive for hormone receptors and involves using certain medications (such as Tamoxifen) to block hormone receptors on cancer cells. This, in turn, kills the cancer cells.
Local Treatment Side Effects
Side effects associated with surgery include bleeding, tenderness, scar tissue, and infection at the surgical site. Radiation can cause changes in your skin in the area being treated, fatigue, swelling and a heavy sensation in the breast.
Systemic Treatment Side Effects
Chemotherapy side effects vary in accordance with the drug that is being used but may include sores in your mouth, loss of hair, nausea, vomiting, diminished appetite, fatigue and easy bleeding and bruising. Hormone therapy may cause menopause-like symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, vaginal dryness and discharge.
Tags: cancer cells, surrounding tissues, hormone receptors, invasive breast, Side Effects, Systemic Treatment
