Chemotherapy drugs are "cytotoxic" (cell-killing) drugs. They are given orally or by injection. They work systemically by killing cancer cells throughout the body. (Unfortunately, they also kill some normal cells, which accounts for many of their side effects.) Chemotherapy is always used for advanced breast cancer, but may also be used to treat types of early-stage breast cancer.
Newer biologic drugs target specific proteins involved in cancer. Treatment with these drugs is called...
Read moreWe have previously discussed this question about timing from breast surgery to chemotherapy, with the pat answer that around 2 months or... Read more »
A recent study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine indicates that older women (defined as over age 65) who’ve had... Read more »
A new federal study has found that women who take estrogen and progestin after menopause increase their chances of getting breast cancer... Read more »
As one of HealthCentral's Expert Patients, I have written a guide to radiation.When it comes to breast cancer treatment, radiation can seem... Read more »
You would think that a woman would put up with a lot of inconvenience if it meant she could keep her breast, rather than have it surgically... Read more »
When it comes to breast cancer treatment, radiation can seem like a walk in the park compared to major surgery and months of chemotherapy. For me, it... Read more »
Source: Breastcancer.org
Radiation therapy is a highly targeted, highly effective way to destroy cancer cells that may linger after surgery. This reduces the risk of... Read more »
Q. I definitely want to avoid lymphedema. Is there anything I can do to ward it off, or is lymphedema totally random? A. The very best thing you... Read more »
Background Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a relatively rare type of breast cancer grows in the lymph vessels of the skin of the breast. Because... Read more »
Many survivors of breast cancer report having decreased sexual desire and drive. There are often several possible causes of diminished sex drive in... Read more »