Breast Cancer Treatments

Because you are unique, your treatment (the kind, dose and frequency) needs to be tailored to you. In this section, you'll get an overview of the options available to you and of the most common treatments offered to women who have breast
c ancer. Your treatment depends on what kind of breast cancer you have, the stage of the cancer, your lifestyle, your age, and whether your periods have stopped (menopause). You may also be asked to participate in a clinical trial. Typically, you'll be seen by a team of breast cancer specialists that will include some combination of the following people:
l primary care doctor who is responsible for your overall care
l medical oncologist (a specialist in cancer)
l radiation oncologist (a radiologist trained in cancer treatment)
l breast cancer surgeon
l registered nurse
l plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction
l psychologist (to help you with the emotional aspects of breast cancer)
pathologist (a medical doctor who specializes in changes caused by
diseases)
l physical therapist
l social worker
If you feel upset as you learn about treatment and about what you will go through, tell your nurse or counselor. Much of this can feel unnerving. Some of the terms may be unfamiliar to you. Ask questions and tell people when you need
e motional or spiritual support. The doctors and nurses who reviewed this guide understand that some of the information might discomfort you. Know that they care about your feelings, too, and that they see the human being who is going through the treatment.

Treatment for breast cancer falls into two categories: local and systemic.Local means Systemic means that treatment, such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, stem-cell transplant, or gene therapy is given to your whole body with the goal of killing any cancer cells that may have moved from a tumor to other areas of your body. In the diagnosis section of this guide, you learned about staging. Look at the Common Treatment chart to see some common treatment choices offered to women at each of the stages. Return to this page to find brief explanations of the different kinds of treatment. You'll likely need more information than is available here. ASK your doctor or nurse for answers.More info:Cancercareinc