Many factors go into determining the right breast cancer treatment for your condition. These include the size of your tumor, the stage and type of breast cancer you have, an assessment of the genes that may be associated with your cancer, your age, whether cancer has spread to other parts of your body, and your risk for recurrence. Tests will determine if your breast cancer is hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-positive (expresses the HER2 protein, which promotes cancer growth), or triple-negative.
The sequence of treatments is determined by your treatment team and can include a lumpectomy or mastectomy, medical treatment, and radiation treatment. Medical treatments can include chemotherapy, endocrine therapy -- which blocks hormones such as estrogen or progesterone that promote the growth of cancer cells -- and targeted therapies, which tell the body’s immune system to target and destroy certain breast cancer cells.
Your medical oncologist will help you weigh the pros and cons of each treatment option to help guide your decision.
