9:34 AM
kotesh
In recent years, there's been an explosion of life-saving treatment advances against breast cancer, bringing new hope and excitement. Instead of only one or two options, today there's an overwhelming menu of treatment choices that fight the complex mix of cells in each individual cancer. The decisions — surgery, then perhaps radiation, hormonal (anti-estrogen) therapy, and/or chemotherapy — can feel overwhelming.
Breastcancer.org can help you understand your cancer stageand appropriate options, so you and your doctors can arrive at the best treatment plan for YOU.
In the following pages of the Treatment and Side Effects section, you can learn about:
- Planning Your Treatment
- What types of treatment are available and which might be appropriate for you.
- Surgery
- Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), mastectomy, and lymph node dissection, and what to expect from each.
- Chemotherapy
- Who should get it, how it works, different types, side effects, and how to manage them.
- Radiation Therapy
- What it is, who it's for, advantages, side effects, and what to expect when you get it.
- Hormonal Therapy
- The link between hormones and breast cancer and how different groups of drugs — including ERDs, SERMs, and aromatase inhibitors — can affect that link.
- Targeted Therapies
- Including Herceptin: How they work, who should get them, how they're given, side effects, and major studies.
- Complementary & Holistic Medicine
- How complementary medicine techniques such as acupuncture, meditation, and yoga could be a helpful addition to your regular medical treatment. Includes research on complementary techniques and ways to find qualified practitioners.
- Drugs for Treatment and Risk Reduction
- A reference list of drugs used to treat and reduce the risk of breast cancer, including how they work, to whom they are typically given, and side effects.
- Treatment Side Effects
- A reference list of side effects and their explanations.
- Clinical Trials
- What clinical trials are and how to find trials if you would like to participate.
