The treatments for breast cancer vary according the stage, type, location and size of the cancer. The non-surgical treatments are hormone therapy, chemotherapy and radiation. Surgeries for breast include the removal of a tumor, mastectomy (breast removal) and the removal of lymphatic tissue.
The Beginning Stage
In the earliest stage, a blockage is found in the mammary glands or a duct. A lobular carcinoma is often simply watched for a while to see if it progresses. Because having a lobular carcinoma in one breast means there is a good chance of it occurring in the other breast, some women opt to prevent cancer by having a double mastectomy. When a woman is diagnosed with ductal carcinoma, she is usually able to have only the lump removed and follow up with other treatments. She can also choose to have her breasts removed in this scenario as well.
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.
Chemotherapy is often given before a woman has surgery to see if the tumor will shrink. If it does, there is a better chance that she will not have to have her entire breast taken off.
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, full mastectomies and lymph tissue removal is performed.
Breast Cancer Stage 4
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.
Reoccurrences of cancer do happen sometimes. If a woman is prepared and catches on very quickly, there is still a chance she will survive. If the cancer was "hiding" in the lymph nodes or elsewhere in the body, it is probably in its last stages. Supportive care is usually the best way to treat this stage of cancer.
Women are not the only ones who may develop breast cancer. Men are known to get it as well. It is a rare occurrence, but it does happen. When it does, their treatment options are the same as for breast cancer in women.
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