One of the common cancers in the country is breast cancer and the treatment modalities can vary from case to case depending on the diagnosis and the present condition. Yet some of the standard and common cancer treatments for breast cancer are inevitable which would again depend on the age of the individual, health condition, type of breast cancer, stage of the disease, and the way the body reacts to the therapy. But with the cutting edge treatments for breast cancer in the country, treatments for cancer are readily available.
Listed below are the common cancer treatments for breast cancer that one’s doctor may recommend:
- Surgery
This is ideally a part of the treatment or the first leg, wherein the tumor or the entire breast is removed. The common surgery treatment includes either breast-conserving or mastectomy. In an ideal situation, breast-conserving is essentially considered with periods of radiation therapy. Also, there are surgeries to remove lymph nodes in case cancer has spread to axillary nodes. And with advanced and groundbreaking medical research, breast reconstruction has also become a common breast cancer treatment. This procedure is not just a standard yet a very crucial component of the overall treatment protocol. Essentially the common surgeries include lumpectomy, wherein the cancerous tissues are removed, and mastectomy, wherein the entire breasts and lymph nodes are removed. - Radiation therapy
This is another treatment on the run that is used to kill the cancer cells. The breast cancer radiation therapy ensures that all the cancer cells and mutated cells are destroyed in the breast and armpit region post-surgery. Indeed this therapy is commonly used in the initial stage of detection. The most usual and standard treatment is external beam breast cancer radiation and internal breast cancer radiation. This therapy, or otherwise known as radiotherapy, is an essential post-surgery to reduce the chances of relapse. This treatment is another key component even if one is undergoing chemotherapy post-surgery. - Endocrine therapy
Otherwise known as hormone therapy, it is meant for women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. This is also post-surgery to reduce the possibility of cancer coming back. This treatment could continue for more than three to four years depending upon the overall health situation. Additionally, this therapy could be applicable before the surgery to shrink a tumor, if any.
- Chemotherapy
This may not be applicable on all occasions and to every case, yet this is a common and a standard treatment either before surgery or after. The objective is to kill the cancer cells from spreading and to shrink tumors before surgery. Also, in many cases, chemotherapy for breast cancer is also administered with other treatments such as hormone and targeted therapies. - Biological therapy
This is a part of the targeted therapy protocol just like hormone and is intended to reduce the risk of the relapse of breast cancer.
These common cancer treatments have been the standard protocol, but as a patient, one could always work it out with their doctor by understanding one’s current health situation and what stage the disease is at.
