Treatment & Side Effects

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 stage and appropriate options, so you and your doctors can arrive at the best treatment plan for YOU.

In the following pages of the Treatment section, you can learn about:

• Overview of Options
  
  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.

• Radiation Therapy
  
  What it is, who it's for, advantages, side effects, and what to expect when you get it.

• Targeted Therapies
  
  Including Herceptin: How they work, who should get them, how they're given, side effects, and major studies.

• 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.

• Chemotherapy
  
  Who should get it, how it works, different types, side effects, and how to manage them.

• Complementary 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.

• Building Long-Term Health
  
  Why it's so important to stick to your treatment plan, take the full course of medications, and continue with regular tests and doctors' visits to keep yourself healthy into the future.