Treatment Approach

Breast cancer treatment is highly personalized and depends on various factors including the type and stage of cancer, hormone receptor status, and overall health. Treatment plans often combine multiple approaches for optimal outcomes.

Cancer Type
Stage
Hormone Status
Patient Health

Surgical Treatments

Lumpectomy

Breast-conserving surgery that removes only the tumor and a small margin of surrounding tissue.

Benefits:

  • Preserves breast appearance
  • Shorter recovery time
  • Less invasive
  • Often followed by radiation
Success Rate: 85-90%

Mastectomy

Complete removal of the breast tissue, sometimes including lymph nodes and chest wall muscles.

Types:

  • Simple mastectomy
  • Modified radical mastectomy
  • Radical mastectomy
  • Skin-sparing mastectomy
Success Rate: 90-95%

Lymph Node Surgery

Removal of lymph nodes to check for cancer spread and prevent further metastasis.

Procedures:

  • Sentinel lymph node biopsy
  • Axillary lymph node dissection
  • Minimally invasive techniques
  • Reduced lymphedema risk
Accuracy: 95-98%

Radiation Therapy

External Beam Radiation

High-energy X-rays directed at the breast from outside the body to destroy cancer cells.

3-6 weeks 5 days/week

Brachytherapy

Internal radiation therapy using radioactive seeds or pellets placed directly in the breast tissue.

1-2 weeks Continuous

Proton Therapy

Advanced radiation therapy using protons instead of X-rays for more precise targeting.

4-6 weeks 5 days/week

Chemotherapy

Systemic Chemotherapy

Drugs that travel through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body.

Anthracyclines

Doxorubicin, Epirubicin

Taxanes

Paclitaxel, Docetaxel

Alkylating Agents

Cyclophosphamide

Targeted Therapy

Drugs that specifically target cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.

HER2-Targeted

Trastuzumab, Pertuzumab

CDK4/6 Inhibitors

Palbociclib, Ribociclib

PARP Inhibitors

Olaparib, Talazoparib

Hormone Therapy

SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators)

Drugs that block estrogen receptors in breast tissue.

  • Tamoxifen (5-10 years)
  • Raloxifene (prevention)
  • Toremifene (metastatic)

Aromatase Inhibitors

Drugs that prevent the body from making estrogen.

  • Anastrozole (5 years)
  • Letrozole (5 years)
  • Exemestane (5 years)

Ovarian Suppression

Methods to stop the ovaries from producing estrogen.

  • GnRH agonists
  • Oophorectomy
  • LHRH analogs

Treatment Comparison Tool

Select filters to compare treatment options