Treatment Options for Breast cancer

Treatment options for breast cancer includes both conservative as well as surgical forms of treatment. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and surgical removal of tumors are used in one or any combination depending on the stage of cancer.

• Surgery for breast cancer is commonly known as lumpectomy and is performed in order to remove the tumour in the breast and possibly surrounding tissues and nearby lymph nodes. This is usually followed by Radiation Therapy to kill any cancerous cells that may be present in the tissue.
• Mastectomy is a procedure where the affected breast is removed through a surgical procedure. After the surgical procedure, the doctors may also advise removing one or more lymph nodes in the armpits.
• Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses anti-cancer drugs to kill or stop the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be administered before or after a surgical procedure which is called Adjuvant and Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy. Adjuvant Chemotherapy wherein chemo is given before surgery to shrink a tumour. This is to reduce the size of the tumour which may have grown to an abnormal size.
• Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy radiation beams to eliminate cancer cells or stop them from growing. Radiation therapy consists of external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy or internal radiation therapy.
• External beam is a treatment option that uses localized high energy radiation beams to eliminate cancer cells and keep them from growing.
• Brachytherapy uses a radioactive substance, usually in the form of seeds which are placed directly into or near cancer which helps to shrink the tumour.
• Hormone therapy is a treatment that targets specific hormones linked to the cancer cells by blocking the properties associated with cell growth.