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:
If you’ve been through long-term breast cancer treatment–chemo, radiation, anything that involves many hours in various waiting rooms... Read more »
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a not-for-profit alliance including some of America’s most respected cancer centers –... Read more »
“The Wedding Song,” first recorded in 1971 by Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul and Mary fame) has become a wedding standard. Stookey... Read more »
Estradiol is a paradoxical drug. Women who use it to reduce menopausal symptoms run an increased risk of cancer, but women who have... Read more »
It’s amazing how quickly we make friends when we’re going through cancer treatment. In normal times, friendship is a slow dance:... 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 »
Q. What with all the side effects I had during chemotherapy, I really wasn’t in the mood for sex very often. And now that I’m done with chemo,... Read more »
If you’ve just learned that you have breast cancer, you may be encountering some of the most anxious moments of your life. Although research has... Read more »
A woman's hormone levels normally change throughout her life for a variety of reasons, and these hormonal changes can lead to changes in her breasts.... Read more »