The American Cancer Society notes that aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and after lung cancer, it is the most common cause of cancer death in women. The chance of dying from this disease is 1 in 35, although currently, 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States live to tell their stories. The death rates have been decreasing, which may be due to a combination of early detection and better treatment.
Surgery
Surgery is usually the first choice of treatment for most women and is done for a variety of reasons; to determine the severity of the cancer, to remove the tumor, relieve the pain of the symptoms and to reconstruct the breast.
The American Cancer Society explains that the primary goal of surgery is to remove as much of the cancer as possible. One of the most common surgeries doctors use to achieve this is a lumpectomy, also known as breast-conserving surgery. During this procedure, the doctor removes only the tumor and a small area of surrounding tissue. Patients with small tumors are the best candidates for this type of surgery.
A mastectomy is the next option and it can be simple or radical. During a simple mastectomy, the doctor removes all the breast tissue including the nipple and areola, while a radical mastectomy includes removal of the above, along with the chest wall under the breast tissue and two or more lymph nodes under the armpit for biopsy. Should these lymph nodes test positive for cancer, the doctor may remove remaining lymph nodes to prevent further spreading of the cancer throughout the body.
Breast reconstruction can be done at the time of surgery, or at a later date.
Radiation Therapy
Depending on the severity of the cancer, the doctor may prescribe radiation therapy to destroy any remaining cancer cells in the breast, underarm or chest wall. High-energy beams accomplish this task and are administered through a large machine placed outside of the body. The American Cancer Society explains that therapy usually begins a month after surgery and is given five days a week and lasts approximately six weeks.
In some cases, the doctor may prescribe internal radiation, also known as brachytherapy. This allows larger doses of radiation to be given in a shorter period of time. During this treatment, the doctor places radioactive material in a thin tube, inserting it directly in to the site requiring treatment. Doing so delivers more precise treatment, increasing efficacy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of treatment that utilizes powerful medications to destroy cancer cells throughout the body. Given either orally or intravenously, these drugs travel through the bloodstream to reach affected cells, to help prevent breast cancer recurrence.
As the Mayo Clinic explains, doctors sometimes use chemotherapy prior to surgery to help shrink a tumor, thus increasing the surgery's possibility of success. It is also a choice for women whose cancer has spread to other areas of the body in an attempt to control the cancer and relieve any symptoms that stem from it.
