Treatment of Breast Cancer
Different types of treatment are available for patients with breast cancer. Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some are being tested in clinical trials. A treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients with cancer.
When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the standard treatment, the new treatment may become the standard treatment. Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. Some clinical trials are open only to patients who have not started treatment.
Every breast cancer patient should preferably be seen by a Surgeon, Medical Oncologist, Radiation Oncologist and Plastic Surgeon before anything is done. Then a treatment plan has to be made and implicated by each member of the team. Different strategies have to be explained an discussed with the patient and her input has to direct the course of treatment.
Types of standard treatment are used:
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a Breast Cancer Treatment that uses high-energy x- rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. - Surgery Breast
- Targeted Therapy
