The three major treatments of breast cancer are surgery, radiation, and drug therapy. No one treatment fits every patient, and combination therapy is usually required. The choice is determined by many factors, including the age of the patient, menopausal status, the kind of cancer (ductal verses lobular), its stage, and whether or not the tumor contains hormone receptors.
Breast cancer treatments are defined as local or systemic:
When I was about 21, I felt a hard place at the top of my right breast. Of course, I started worrying that I might have breast cancer,... Read more »
Children and teenagers are not little adults; they cannot be treated either medically or psychosocially like adults. The diagnosis of... Read more »
The potential to live longer with metastatic breast cancer is every stage IV survivor’s hope. And now a new drug shows not just... Read more »
I do not believe that cancer itself is a "gift." However, cancer, or more accurately the process of living through it, has given me many... Read more »
I was at an engagement party at the lavish home of an old friend of the family last week. It was fully catered: open bar, passed hors... Read more »
Source: Breastcancer.org
Because inflammatory breast cancer forms in layers, your doctor may not feel a distinct lump during a breast exam and a mammogram may not detect one... Read more »
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Breast Examination by a Health Professional. Women ages 20 - 49 should have a physical examination by a health professional every 1 - 2 years. Those... Read more »
Source: Breastcancer.org
is the process used to figure out how far invasive lobular carcinoma may have spread from its original location. The stage of the cancer is based on... Read more »
Source: Breastcancer.org
Options STAGE IIIB and Inoperable IIICTumor of any size with spread to tissues near the breast (skin of the breast or muscles or ribs of the chest... Read more »
Source: Breastcancer.org
Options STAGE IIIA and Operable IIICTumor greater than 5 cm with lymph nodes involved (IIIA) OR Tumor less than 5 cm and lymph nodes under the arm... Read more »