Treatment Options

Anyone who has ever had cancer remembers what it felt like hearing the diagnosis for the first time. You can feel angry, afraid, cheated, overwhelmed, and uncertain about the future. But in time you learn you can take control of your life. Your medical team, family, and friends can help you through the process. Here’s how:

STEP 1: Planning your journey
Your doctor reviewed your pathology report and made a diagnosis of breast cancer. The same report will be used to determine your prognosis (chances of recovery from breast cancer) and to suggest a course of treatment. Making this plan is the first step in the process of healing.

STEP 2: Making treatment decisions
Today doctors have many treatment options to choose from. There are two main types of breast cancer treatment: local and systemic.

Local treatment includes procedures involving only the breast and surrounding tissue. These include surgery and radiation therapy. Surgeries can be breast conserving, such as lumpectomy and axillary (under the arm) lymph node removal, or can remove the breast, called a mastectomy.

Systemic treatment is a type of treatment that reaches cancer cells that are throughout the body. It includes treatments like chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Local and systemic treatments are often used together to provide the best chance for recovery.

STEP 3: Knowing what to expect
Once you have made your treatment decision, but before you actually begin, find out what you can expect during treatment. Also, most treatments have some side effects. For every treatment that your doctor recommends, ask what side effects are common, how long they will last, and what can be done to prevent or treat these side effects.

STEP 4: Dealing with treatment
Depending on the type, treatment can last from one week to several months. During this time, your medical team will keep you busy with doctor’s visits, tests, medications, and lab reports. Remember to take time to take care of yourself during treatment. Eat well and get plenty of sleep. Join a support group to talk to others who are going through the same treatment you are. A program called Look Good…Feel Better teaches beauty techniques for those in cancer treatment. Contact the American Cancer Society at 503-259-6422.