According to WomensHealth.gov, early-stage breast cancer refers to breast cancer that has been classified as stage I, II (A or B), and IIIA. Treatment for these breast cancers can vary depending on the size and location of the tumor, the patient's health and patient preferences.
Identification
Early-stage breast cancer consists of invasive tumors that may have spread to lymph nodes that are near the tumor but not to distant lymph nodes or distant organs or other parts of the body.
Types
Types of treatment for early-stage breast cancers include surgery (either lumpectomy or mastectomy) with or without radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Most often, treatment consists of a combination of one or more of these options.
Benefits
The five-year relative survival rate for is 100 percent Stage I breast cancer and 86 percent for Stage II, according to the American Cancer Society.
Side Effects
Side effects of treatment for early-stage breast cancer vary, depending on the kind of treatment, but may include fatigue, soreness, nausea, increased risk of infections and hair loss. Many side effects of treatment are highly manageable and resolve once treatment has ended.
Famous Ties
Christina Applegate, Melissa Etheridge, Edie Falco, Sheryl Crow and Kylie Minogue have all survived early-stage breast cancer.
References
- U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services: Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treatment
- Manual of Clinical Oncology (6th Ed), Dennis Casciato (Ed), 2009
- American Cancer Society: Breast Cancer: General Types of Treatment
