Breast Cancer
How is it treated?
The most important treatment for breast cancer is early detection. Starting around age 20, women should perform monthly self breast examines to check for any new masses or lumps. Contact your doctor immediately if you detect a lump or mass or your breast(s) is painful or abnormally shaped. Also, contact your doctor if you notice any swelling in your armpits, which could also be associated with cancer.
The type of treatment that is chosen for a person with breast cancer is based on several factors, and the individual should work closely with the health care provider to determine the best treatment approach. The decision for treatment is made based on the size and location of the mass in the breast, lab tests performed on the cancer cells, and the stage or extent of the disease. The care given may consist of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and hormone therapy or a combination of treatments.
Most individuals with breast cancer will have some type of surgery. Surgery for breast cancer includes either a mastectomy, full removal of the breast, or lumpectomy, which preserves the breast and only removes the lump. Each of these procedures can also be done with or without removal of lymph nodes. Treatment regimens may be used to prevent the spread of breast cancer to the opposite breast and to reduce the incidence of breast cancer.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is urging health professionals to recommend tamoxifen or raloxifene to women at high risk for developing breast cancer to prevent the disease (chemoprevention). This agency is also advising that women at low or average breast cancer risk should not take these medications for chemoprevention due to adverse effects.
Drug classes used to treat Breast Cancer Anti-estrogens Aromatase Inhibitor Monoclonal Antibodies Progestins
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How is it treated?
