Breast Cancer Treatment Options Vary - Which Is Right For You?A diagnosis of breast cancer can be a very frightening and emotional time for the woman undergoing the ordeal. The fact is that breast cancer treatment options are a bit greater than they used to be and the even better news is that with early detection, there is now a 96 percent five-year survival rate following treatment. While the breast cancer treatment of choice for years was surgery as an absolute given, that's not always the case any more. And, even when it is, surgery to attack breast cancer is now much more precise and targeted. The goal is to, of course, beat the cancer, but also to preserve as much of the breast tissue as possible. Although there are other forms of breast cancer treatment available, surgery is still one of the main options. Let's take a look at some of the different forms of surgery and follow up procedures that might be presented as treatment options for newly diagnosed cancer patients. Lumpectomy: This breast cancer treatment option is designed to conserve as much of the breast as is possible while removing the tumor. In this surgery, the tumor will be removed and there will generally be follow up with radiation therapy to ensure the remaining breast tissue is cancer-free. This is can be a very good choice in cases where it's deemed feasible by medical professionals, as the psychological impacts are not as great as total breast removal. Mastectomy: In this particular breast cancer treatment the entire breast is removed. This will sometimes involve radiation treatment following the surgery. While this isn't the choice most patients want to hear, it is the one surgeons will opt for when they cannot be sure a lumpectomy will remove all of the cancer. Radiation therapy: This breast cancer treatment is generally used following surgery to ensure the cancer is fully treated. It involves high-energy beams that are focused into the area that needs to be treated. The procedure works by damaging the cells that are in its way, which can include good ones, too. But, in the process, cancer cells are killed. The amount and duration of radiation therapy following surgery will depend on the individual person and their particular case. Chemotherapy: This breast cancer treatment is also a possibility for some patients. This therapy is considered a "systemic" one in that it treats the entire body through the bloodstream. The intent of chemo is to kill any cancer cells that might have possibly spread other parts of the body. Many physicians and patients see the introduction of chemotherapy as a way to be doubly sure the cancer is gone and that other parts of the body won’t be affected by cells that have strayed. Breast cancer is a diagnosis that no one wants to hear. Fortunately, with early detection and treatment, this particular form of cancer has a very high survival rate. Finding out the facts about potential breast cancer treatment options can help make the entire process a little less frightening. It's important to seek out medical advice and work as a team with medical care providers to tackle this condition as quickly as possible. |
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