Treatment By Stage

Transcript

Breast cancer treatment plans are usually based on the stage and the type of breast cancer. Sometimes the breast cancer stage may not be available until after breast cancer surgery. With today’s therapies, the overall survival of breast cancer may range from a few months to many years, depending on the tumor characteristics and the treatment used. In general, the higher the stage, the more intense the treatment is involved.

Most women with stage one, two or three breast cancer are treated with surgery, which may be followed by radiation therapy. Some may require more medicine afterwards. Some women may require chemotherapy also. Treatment options are also affected by other characteristics of the breast cancer, such as the hormone receptor status, either estrogen or progesterone receptor, HER2 expression, tumor grade, menopausal status, and the overall health of the patient.

Key Takeaways

1. Breast cancer treatment plans are usually based on the stage and type – the higher the stage, the more intense the treatment.

2. Most women with stage one, two or three breast cancer are treated with surgery, which may be followed by radiation therapy and sometimes medication or chemotherapy.

3. Treatment options are also affected by hormone receptor status, tumor grade, menopausal status, and the overall health of the patient.