2014;3:102. Breast-feeding might play a role in breast cancer prevention. Or, it’s between 2 and 5 centimeters and hasn’t spread to lymph nodes. Healthcare professionals emphasize that there is value in conducting a regular breast self-exam in order to help identify breast cancer in its early stages. Breast cancer treatments are local or systemic. Below, you will find overviews of today’s most common treatment options for breast cancer, including when they are usually used and potential side effects. Breast cancer stages range from 0 to 4. And when your cancer spreads, it’s still treated as breast cancer — but your treatment options can vary. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |. Patients are provided with personalized information regarding genetic influences, specific cancer risks and targeted screening and prevention options. You and your doctor will choose the best option for you. If the tumor is larger or is invasive, a mastectomy may be necessary. With hormone therapy, drugs that stop estrogen from attaching to these receptors are prescribed. Immunotherapy works by raising the body’s natural defenses to fight off the cancer. Ask your surgeon how you can take the best care of the incision and promote healing. Herceptin is given along with chemotherapy for HER2-positive breast cancers. Other drugs used to treat advanced stage breast cancer include: Immunotherapy is a relatively new treatment option, and while it hasn’t been FDA approved for breast cancer yet, it’s a promising area. If so, then genetic counseling is recommended to determine if genetic testing would be useful. You have a number of treatments to choose from. COVID-19 Vaccines: Updates You Need to Know, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Surgical Options for Breast Cancer - Breast Cancer Surgery Options, Everyday Habits to Lower Breast Cancer Risk, Treatment Choices for Advanced Breast Cancer, 10 Questions to Ask the Breast Cancer Surgeon, Exercise and Nutrition After Breast Cancer Surgery, Managing the Visual Side-Effects of Breast Cancer. How Long Does Coronavirus Live On Surfaces? If precancerous or cancer cells are confined to the milk ducts, it’s called noninvasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Those symptoms often include: While the symptoms of metastatic breast cancer can vary depending on where the cancer has spread to, treatment options and the right care can help alleviate them. Talk to your doctor about which screening schedule is right for you. One study found that 37.5 percent of patients with triple-negative breast cancer saw a benefit from the therapy. Find support from others who are living with breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer can’t be cured, but it can be treated with aggressive systemic therapy. Breast cancer most often spreads to the lungs, brain, liver, or bones. Information from your mammogram or ultrasound report is used to advise this. If you have questions about symptoms you are currently experiencing, please call one of our askSARAH registered nurses at (844) 482-4812. If you have questions, please refer to our Online Chat FAQ. PLoS ONE. Mammogram. You can use breast implants or your own tissue, usually from your lower abdomen. If you have breast cancer, you have more treatment options than ever before. Oncoplastic Surgery for Upper/Upper Inner Quadrant Breast Cancer. If you need breast cancer surgery, you may have some choice about which procedure to have, depending on the specifics of your case. A radical mastectomy is usually only recommended if the cancer has spread to your chest muscles. If family or friends don't agree, calmly thank them for their opinion and let them know that you are making the decision that you feel is best for you. Being pregnant also impacts breast cancer treatment. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy induces breast cancer metastasis through a TMEM-mediated mechanism. Final Recommendation Statement Breast Cancer: Screening, Effects of a High vs Moderate Volume of Aerobic Exercise on Adiposity Outcomes in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Breast Cancer Health Aspects and Complications, Follow Up Care After Breast Cancer Surgery, Intraoperative Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer, Medications to Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer, The Role of Ethnicity and Race in Breast Cancer Risk, What if They Think They See Something on My Mammogram, What is the Benefit of BRCA Genetic Testing. According to the National Cancer Institute, breast and ovarian cancers have been linked to specific mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are genes that, when functioning normally, produce proteins that help repair damaged DNA and manage a cell's genetic stability. Learn about screening schedules and more in this comprehensive guide to breast cancer. Azuero A, Benz R, Mcnees P, Meneses K. Co-morbidity and predictors of health status in older rural breast cancer survivors. And although we have identified numerous genetic causes of breast cancer, only about 5-10% of breast cancer can be identified as genetically mediated. Patients are provided with personalized information regarding genetic influences, specific cancer risks and targeted screening and prevention options. Mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) is another option. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Stage 4 indicates that breast cancer has metastasized (spread to a distant part of the body). If the tests find cancer, you and your doctor will develop a treatment plan to eradicate the breast cancer, to reduce the chance of cancer returning in the breast, as well as to reduce the chance of the cancer traveling to a location outside of the breast. Chemotherapy be also be given for hormone-positive breast cancers. All rights reserved. This may not be a good option for you if you can’t or won’t have radiation. Your heart. Sometimes used prior to surgery, it is more commonly used afterward to reduce the chance of recurrence. Surgery to reconstruct the breast can begin at the time of the mastectomy or at a later date. There are standard treatments for the different types and stages of breast cancer, but your treatment will be tailored to your individual needs. Finding a surgeon with a lot of experience in breast surgery and who has a good reputation is, obviously, very beneficial. It can also mean the tumor is bigger than 5 centimeters and small groups of cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes. However, it is not an option for all types of breast cancer. These doctors could include: A breast surgeon or surgical oncologist: a doctor who uses surgery to treat breast cancer; A radiation oncologist: a doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer; A medical oncologist: a doctor who uses chemotherapy and other medicines to treat cancer Cleveland Clinic’s Ob/Gyn & Women’s Health Institute is committed to providing world-class care for women of all ages.