Breast cancer is among the most serious and the most common cancer types in women, not only in the USA, but also in the world. In fact, it is one of the leading causes of female mortality in the developed world. That’s why it is so important to find ways to treat and fight breast cancer.
There are several different types of breast cancer and the treatment largely depends on the type of the cancer, as well as the severity and the progression of the tumor. In fact, doctors seldom prescribe just one type of treatment when it comes to cancer. More likely than not, a combination of different treatments is chosen. Here are some of the most likely types of treatment for breast cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is used to treat a number of different cancers, including the breast cancer. It is one of the so called systemic therapy options. What it means is that it can locate the cancer wherever it is in the body because it is injected into the bloodstream. The most common way chemotherapy drugs are given is by injection through an IV tube, or injected under the skin or into the muscle tissue with a syringe without the need for a permanent IV line. However, there are some chemotherapy drugs which do not need to be injected, because they exist in pill or capsule form.
The way most chemotherapy drugs work is by preventing cancer cells from dividing any further. They can be given as the only kind of treatment, or as a part of multifaceted treatment. It is not uncommon to start a chemotherapy treatment just before a surgery, in order to reduce the size of the tumor as well as after the surgery to try to reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of the tumor.
Surgery
The most effective, but also the most invasive method of fighting the tumor is removing it altogether. The surgeon will also likely use the opportunity to inspect the lymph nodes to ensure that the cancer has not advanced locally to them because that can lead to a metastasis. When it comes to surgical options, there are two main types of tumor removal options – lumpectomy and mastectomy.
Lumpectomy is typically used if the cancer is caught in the early stages and can be localized and removed without damaging too much of the surrounding tissue. However, if the cancer has progressed and can be found throughout the breast, it is more likely that mastectomy will be required. This surgical procedure removes the whole breast and some of the surrounding tissue as well.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses powerful rays like X-rays to destroy cancer cells. It is one of the targeted, or local therapies since it can be targeted at the problematic area, and not administered to the whole body. Radiation therapy is often used in concord with other types of therapies in order to increase their effectiveness. It can be combined with the surgical procedures or with chemotherapy, but when used with chemotherapy, it is often delayed until chemo rounds are done.
There are a few different types of radiation therapy, but they all take daily therapies for the duration of several weeks. Some of the most common side effects of radiation therapy include temporary swelling, redness of the skin as well as fatigue. However, patients can also experience a reduction in the size of breasts as well as some pain in the arms or chest.
There are other treatment options like targeted therapy and hormone therapy, and more cancer medication is being developed, but these are the most likely start for any oncologist.
