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Early Breast Cancer Treatment: Options that May Save Your
Life
By: Tim
When caught early, breast cancer treatment success rates increase significantly. In fact, a cure is most likely when the disease is still in the early stages. Today’s state-of-the-art screening methods make it possible to detect and quickly diagnose breast cancer in its infancy. This allows for rapid development and implementation of an individualized treatment plan.
Before discussing treatment options, it is important to define early breast cancer because the type of treatment depends upon the stage of breast cancer. The “stage” of breast cancer refers to a combination of factors such as the size of the tumor, whether or not it has spread further into the breast tissue or other areas of the body, and whether or not any lymph nodes are involved. Early breast cancer is defined as stage 0 or I meaning the tumor is 2 cm or smaller, and has not spread to lymph nodes or other areas of the body.
Early breast cancer treatment options are generally the same as those for more advanced stages of breast cancer. As breast cancer progresses into later stages however, treatment options may become more involved and targeted to specific aspects of cancer cells. Breast cancer treatments are grouped into a few general categories based on how they treat the disease and when they are used. Classifications include local, systemic, adjuvant and neoadjuvent therapies.
Local Therapies – are those used at a specific cancer site, including surgery and radiation.
Systemic Therapies – are drugs used to treat the entire body such as chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
Adjuvent Therapies – refers to additional systemic therapies given to help destroy hidden cancer cells.
Neoadjuvent Therapies – are systemic therapies given before surgery to help shrink a tumor.
Surgery is often the first line of defense for breast cancer patients. Patients with early breast cancer, stages 0 and I, are likely candidates for breast-conserving surgery, either a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy. Breast reconstruction can be done at the time of surgery or at a later time. These procedures can be performed when tumors are small, or when neoadjuvent therapies are successful in shrinking a tumor. While a mastectomy is also an option for small tumors, it is needed when tumors are too large for breast-conserving procedures.
Most early breast cancer patients who undergo breast-conserving surgery, and some having had a mastectomy, follow-up with radiation treatments. While radiation therapy is not very appealing, studies have shown that women reduce their risk of death from the cancer if they receive radiation treatments.
Adjuvent therapies for early breast cancer may or may not be recommended depending on the size of the tumor. It is generally recommended for cancers 1 cm across or larger, but may be used for smaller cancers also. Use of this type of therapy is based on the specific cancer and the patient’s individual needs.
There are few, if any, more difficult words to hear than “you have cancer.” If caught early however, the chance of survival is excellent. In fact, the American Cancer Society indicates that the 5-year survival rate for stages 0 and I breast cancer is 100%. While this may not accurately represent everyone’s prognosis in these stages, it’s the best reason yet to get screened and seek out early breast cancer treatment if you do hear those words.
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