Breast cancer is the presence of uncontrolled growths within the tissue and glands of the breast. Numerous treatments have been established that have significantly increased survival rates for this disease, according to BreastCancer.org. In the past, there were only one or two treatment options for breast cancer. Now a variety of treatment regimens are available. Choosing which treatment option may prove daunting, but a thorough understanding of each treatment will make selecting one easier.
Surgery
Surgery has always been a possible treatment option for the early to middle stages of breast cancer. Surgery removes breast tissue that has become cancerous, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By removing the cancer, the surgery prevents it from spreading and causing more severe complications. Sometimes only a small portion of the breast is removed. However, if the cancer is aggressive or has spread throughout most of the breast, a large section of the breast is removed along with some of the underlying muscle and nearby lymph nodes. Surgeons must try to remove all traces of the cancer, or it can recur.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs that target and eradicate cancer cells, according to the Mayo Clinic. Chemotherapy is typically used in patients who have cancer that has a high chance of returning or that as spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy is also used in large breast tumors before surgery. The chemotherapy helps shrink the tumor so that removal via surgery is more easily accomplished. Chemotherapy targets cells that are dividing rapidly, so the drugs do not affect most normal cells. However, the drugs do cause side effects, which include hair loss, vomiting, nausea, fever and an increase in infection rates.
Radiation Therapy
Breast cancer can be treated with radiation therapy, according to BreastCancer.org. Radiation therapy uses intense, powerful energy waves to kill cancer cells. The radiation destroys the cancer cells' DNA and prevents the tumor from growing. Radiation therapy reduces the recurrence of breast cancer by 70 percent. Furthermore, radiation therapy can be targeted on a small portion of the body. The radiation will only affect the breast tissue while leaving the surrounding tissue undamaged. Side effects are limited to the irradiated area and the skin and tissues above the treatment site.
Hormone Therapy
Some breast cancer cells are sensitive to the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Certain drugs can prevent these hormones from reaching the tumor. This is called hormone therapy or hormone-blocking therapy, and combats special types of breast cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic. Hormone therapy decreases the chance of the cancer recurring, shrinks existing tumors and prevents the spread of the disease.
