the-Articles.com » Cancer » Do Breast Cancer Treatments Work At All?

---

Do Breast Cancer Treatments Work At All?

Author: MadonnaAhl Total views: 20 Word Count: 433

Which treatments are used is determined by which stage the cancer is in as well as where it is located and how big the tumor is found to be. Treatments for breast cancer are: chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, lumpectomy, mastectomy and lymphatic tissue removal.

Stage 0

If a woman has very small blockages in her mammary glands called "lobular carcinoma", usually nothing is done except to watch her very carefully. Some women who have lobular carcinoma choose to have both of their breasts removed because the chances of getting breast cancer in the other breast are very hight. In the case of ductal carcinoma, women can often have only a lumpectomy - the lump is removed without having to remove the breast. She will then be treated with radiation therapy. Again, some women also choose to have both of their breasts removed as a preventative.

Stages II through IV

In these stages, women are often treated with chemo, radiation and hormones before surgery is attempted. If the cancer is larger and is spreading quickly, a mastectomy is done followed with the removal of the lymph nodes in the axillary area. Radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapies are used after this major surgery.

A woman can and often does choose to try chemotherapy for a while before surgery. If the tumor shrinks, she may only have to have the lump removed rather than have a mastectomy.

After a lumpectomy or a mastectomy, radiation therapy is most often undergone to kill any remaining cancer and increase a woman's chance of survival.

If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and in many cases where it has not, a mastectomy is usually performed along with the removal of the lymph nodes in the axillary area.

The Last Stage of Cancer

In the case of stage IV breast cancer, the disease is considered inoperable. Treatments include radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. These do not save her life but often help her to live for a while longer. Women may choose to have no therapy in this stage and opt instead for supportive care. This is meant to help control pain and support a better quality of life while she is dying.

When all of the cancer is not found or certain conditions cause a reoccurrence of cancer, mastectomy with lymph node removal is followed by radiation, chemotherapies and hormone therapies unless the cancer is too advanced. In that case, supportive care is often recommended.

While women are the majority when it comes to having breast cancer, a small percentage of men have been known to get it as well. The treatment is much the same for them.

Article Source: the-Articles.com

About the Author

The truth about your breast cancer treatment option. What does really work and what are your chances? Click here to find out http://www.breastcancerandtreatment.com/

---

Rating: Not yet rated

--Choose-- 0 1 2 3 4 5

Comments No comments posted.

Add Comment

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.


Copy and Paste Article Code.

Remember: The article body, title, author bio and links may not be changed or removed. By publishing this article, you agree to all the terms in our Terms of Service.

More articles in this Category

1: Holistic Cure For Cancer
2: Being Aware of Skin Cancer
3: Prostate Cancer
4: Symptoms Of Inflammatory Breast Cancer
5: The Emory Department of Radiation Oncology is Ready to Help