The odds of surviving breast cancer are strongly tied to how early it is
found. According to the American Cancer Society, 88% of women with
Stage 1 breast cancer live at least five years, compared with women who
don't have cancer -- and many women in this group remain cancer-free for
good. The more advanced the cancer, the lower this figure becomes. By
Stage 4, the five-year relative survival rate declines to 15%. But these
rates can improve as more effective treatments are found.
Breast Cancer Surgery
There
are many types of breast cancer surgery, from taking out the area
around the lump (lumpectomy or breast-conservation surgery) to removing
the entire breast (mastectomy.) It's best to discuss the pros and cons
of each of these procedures with your doctor before deciding what's
right for you.
Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer
Radiation
therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It may be used
after breast cancer surgery to wipe out any cancer cells that remain
near the tumor site. It can also be used along with chemotherapy for
treatment of cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Side
effects can include fatigue and swelling or a sunburn-like feeling in
the treated area.
Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
Chemotherapy
uses drugs to kill cancer cells anywhere in the body. The drugs are
often given by IV, but are sometimes taken by mouth or shot.
Chemotherapy may be done after surgery to lower the odds of the cancer
coming back. In women with advanced breast cancer, chemotherapy can help
control the cancer's growth. Side effects may include hair loss,
nausea, fatigue, and a higher risk of infection.
Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
Hormone
therapy is an effective treatment for women with ER-positive or
PR-positive breast cancer. These are cancers that grow more rapidly in
response to the hormones estrogen or progesterone. Hormone therapy can
block this effect. It is most often used after breast cancer surgery to
help keep the cancer from coming back. It may also be used to reduce the
chance of breast cancer developing in women who are at high risk.
Targeted Drugs for Breast Cancer
Targeted
therapies are newer drugs that target specific properties within cancer
cells. For example, women with HER2-positive breast cancer have too
much of a protein called HER2. Targeted therapies can stop this protein
from promoting the growth of cancer cells. These drugs are often used in
combination with chemotherapy. They tend to have milder side effects
compared with chemotherapy.
No comments:
Post a Comment