There are several treatment options for breast cancer, and the best one for a particular individual will depend on several factors, including the type and stage of the cancer, as well as the person’s overall health and personal preferences. Your doctor will also determine your breast cancer treatment options based on your type of breast cancer, its stage and grade, size, and whether the cancer cells are sensitive to hormones. Some common treatments for breast cancer include:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Hormonal therapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Supportive (palliative) care
These are further discussed below.
Surgery: Surgery is a common treatment for breast cancer and can include several different procedures, such as a lumpectomy (removal of the tumor and a small margin of surrounding tissue), a mastectomy (removal of the entire breast), and lymph node dissection (removal of lymph nodes under the arm). The type of surgery will depend on the stage and type of cancer, as well as the patient’s preferences.
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. It is often used after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer returning, and can also be used as a primary treatment for some early-stage cancers.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It is often used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, or to shrink large tumors before surgery.
Hormonal therapy: Hormonal therapy is a treatment that uses drugs to block the effects of hormones that can fuel the growth of certain types of breast cancer, such as ER/PR-positive breast cancer. This type of treatment is often used after surgery and/or radiation therapy, and can help to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.
Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that targets specific molecules or pathways involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Some targeted therapies used to treat breast cancer include HER2-targeted therapy (for HER2-positive breast cancer) and CDK 4/6 inhibitors( for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body).
Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer. Your body’s disease-fighting immune system may not attack your cancer because the cancer cells produce proteins that blind the immune system cells. Immunotherapy works by interfering with that process. Immunotherapy might be an option if you have triple-negative breast cancer, which means that the cancer cells don’t have receptors for estrogen, progesterone or HER2.
Supportive (palliative) care: Palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on providing relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness. Palliative care specialists work with you, your family and your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support that complements your ongoing care. Palliative care can be used while undergoing other aggressive treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. When palliative care is used along with all of the other appropriate treatments, people with cancer may feel better and live longer.
Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specially trained professionals. Palliative care teams aim to improve the quality of life for people with cancer and their families. This form of care is offered alongside curative or other treatments you may be receiving.
A treatment plan will be customised for the individual, a team of doctors including Medical Oncologist, Radiation Oncologist and a surgical oncologist will recommend the best treatment options based on their stage of cancer, lab results, medical history and other factors. It is also important to be involved in the decision making process and discuss all the available options with your healthcare team, so that you can make an informed decision about the treatment that is right for you.