Breast cancer is a malignant growth that originates in breast tissue cells. It affects thousands of women worldwide and can also develop in men. There are numerous treatment options for those affected depending on the type of cancer, the tumor’s stage of development, and the patient’s general health condition.
Most Common Types of Breast Cancer
There are two types of breast cancer: non-invasive (in situ) and invasive (infiltrating).
- Non-invasive (in situ): This type of breast cancer remains where it first developed; it does not spread. In ductal carcinoma, the cancer starts in the milk ducts, and in lobular carcinoma, it begins in the breast lobules. This is the earliest stage of cancer and has a high likelihood of treatment success.
- Invasive (infiltrating): These breast cancers spread into surrounding tissues. Most cancers are invasive, and there are different types of invasive cancers.
- Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC): It is the most common type of breast cancer. It originates in the milk duct, spreads to nearby tissues, and can metastasize to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
- Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC): This type of cancer begins in the milk-producing glands and can spread to other parts of the breast and body. It is more difficult to detect and may affect both breasts. About 1 in 10 breast cancers are of this type (American Cancer Society, August 29, 2023).
Primary Modes of Treatment
There is a wide range of treatment options tailored to each individual depending on the type, stage, and characteristics of the cancer. The treatments are divided into two types: local and systemic treatments.
1. Local Treatments: Local treatments treat the tumor without affecting the rest of the body. These include surgery and radiation.
Surgery: Most women with breast cancer undergo some form of surgery (American Cancer Society, August 29, 2023). Surgery can be done for several reasons: to remove the cancer or to investigate the state of the tumor.
- Surgery to remove cancer: Breast-conserving surgery or lumpectomy removes the tumor and some surrounding tissue. It is usually done alongside radiation therapy, which has a higher success rate. Women may also opt for a mastectomy, which removes the entire breast tissue. A mastectomy may be recommended for women with large tumors, genetic predispositions, or who cannot get radiation therapy.
- Surgery to remove nearby lymph nodes: This may be done to determine if the cancer has spread. Lymph nodes may be removed and analyzed in a lab to determine the cancer stage.
Radiation: Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses high-energy rays to target and kill cancer cells. It is often used after surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells and to reduce reoccurrence.
- External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) is the most common type, and it involves the use of an external machine targeted at the area affected, depending on the type of surgery. For example, radiation will target the entire breast after breast-conserving surgery. This area may also be targeted if cancer is found in the lymph nodes.
- Brachytherapy is internal radiation therapy where a device with radioactive pellets is placed into the breast for some time in the area where the cancer has been removed.
2. Systemic Treatments: Systemic treatments use drugs that can reach cancer cells almost anywhere in the body. They can be administered by mouth or injected directly into the muscle or bloodstream.
- Chemotherapy: This treatment uses anti-cancer drugs given intravenously or by mouth. The drugs travel through the bloodstream. It may be used before surgery (neoadjuvant) to shrink large tumors or in cases involving lymph nodes. It may also be used for cancer that has metastasized. It is also used after surgery (adjuvant) to remove any remaining cancer cells.
- Hormone therapy: This treatment is used for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers. Some breast cancers are affected by hormones such as estrogen or progesterone. Drugs either block the effects of the hormones or lower their levels. About 2 out of 3 cancers are hormone-receptor positive (American Cancer Society, August 29, 2023).
- Immunotherapy: This approach harnesses the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. It attempts to enhance the immune response using specific proteins in the immune system.
- Targeted Drug Therapy: Targeted therapy uses medicines that focus on specific molecules that play a role in the growth and spread of cancer cells. They may also boost the immune system. These drugs enter the bloodstream and can successfully treat cancers that have spread beyond the breast.
Breast cancer treatment is a dynamic and individualized process considering the patient’s unique circumstances. Each individual’s treatment will look different depending on various factors: severity and type of cancer, patient’s health, and patient’s preference. Treatment is primarily successful when it is begun as early as possible. The more advanced the cancer, the more aggressive the treatment will be.
For more information on breast cancer treatment, read more at The American Cancer Society.
Article written by Mitchelle Lumumba
Citation: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/treatment.html