Diagnosis and Treatment

Doctors use a rating scale to stage, or to describe the seriousness of each case of breast cancer. The scale includes five stages: 0, I, II, III, and IV. The higher the stage, the more extensive and serious the cancer. The stage depends on:

• the size of the tumor
• whether the cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes (glands in the underarm)
• signs of metastasis (the cancer spreading to other parts of the body) 
   

There are several different types of breast cancer. Most breast cancer occurs in the milk ducts of the breast—the tubes that carry breast milk to the nipple. This breast cancer is called ductal carcinoma. A second, but less common form of breast cancer occurs in the lobules—where breast milk is made. This breast cancer is called lobular carcinoma. Less common forms of breast cancer are inflammatory, medullary, mucinous, tubular and Paget’s disease.

All women with breast cancer should consult with a medical oncologist to determine their specific treatment needs. There are two main types of breast cancer treatment: local and systemic. Surgery and radiation therapy are local treatments. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy are systemic therapies. Local and systemic treatments are usually used together to provide the best chance of recovery.

There are two main types of surgeries for breast cancer: breast conserving surgery and mastectomy. With breast conserving surgeries, the surgeon tries to spare and preserve as much of the breast tissue as possible. The surgeon will remove the breast cancer, some normal tissue around it and usually some of the lymph nodes in the underarm. With a mastectomy, the entire breast is removed.

Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is the use of high-energy rays, usually X-rays, to kill cancer cells. Radiation is very effective in killing fast growing cells like breast cancer. Some healthy cells are also damaged during radiation therapy, but these can recover. Sometimes radiation is given before surgery to shrink tumor cells. But most often it’s given after surgery to stop the growth of any cancer cells that may remain.

Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to treat cancer. It can be used to treat cancer by stopping the growth of cancer by killing cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body. Chemotherapy is given after surgery (called adjuvant chemotherapy) or before surgery (known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the risk of breast cancer returning.

For information on breast cancer diagnosis click here.

For information on breast cancer treatment click here.