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Lymph node removal
Axillary node dissection refers to the surgical removal
of some or all of the lymph nodes under a woman’s arm. Axillary node dissections are
usually performed on women who undergo mastectomy to determine whether the cancer has
spread past the breast. Sentinel node biopsy is a procedure
in which only the sentinel lymph node is removed to evaluate breast
cancer metastasis (spread). Lymphedema (chronic swelling of
the arm) is a potentially dangerous side effect of lymph node removal.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
is treatment with anticancer drugs and is normally administered intravenously (through the
vein) or orally in the form of pills or liquid. Chemotherapy may be used alone or in
conjunction with lumpectomy or mastectomy
to treat breast cancer patients. Chemotherapy is a systemic form of treatment; it flows
through the bloodstream, affecting the entire body. Its purpose is to interfere with the
DNA synthesis of cancer cells. . Physicians will determine the appropriate combination of drugs
used for chemotherapy based on the patient's cancer characteristics and individual medical profile.
Radiation
Radiation
therapy uses high-energy rays to stop breast cancer cells from growing and dividing.
Ionizing radiation deposits energy in the area being treated that injures cancer cells by
damaging genetic material and inhibiting growth. Although radiation damages both cancer
cells and normal cells, normal cells are usually able to repair themselves and function
properly after radiation.
Drug Therapy
A variety of drugs may be used with or
without breast surgery to treat breast cancer. The most common breast cancer drug, tamoxifen, works by competing with estrogen to bind to estrogen
receptors in breast cancer cells. By blocking estrogen in the breast, tamoxifen helps slow
the growth and reproduction of breast cancer cells.
A variety of drugs may be used with or without breast surgery to treat breast cancer. They include::
- Tamoxifen: effective only in breast cancer that
are dependent on estrogen
- Herceptin:
used to treat breast cancer patients who have an excess of the HER2 gene
Ellence:
used in conjunction with chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil) to treat early
stage breast cancer
Taxol:
used to treat early and advanced stages of breast cancer
Docetaxel:
used in conjunction with chemotherapy to treat advanced breast cancer
Aromasin:
used in post-menopausal breast cancer patients with advanced breast cancer
- Arimidex: used in advanced (metastatic) breast
cancer patients who have not responded well to treatment with the drug, tamoxifen
The above drugs are only a few used to treat breast cancer. Click here
to read about others. The type of drugs used to treat breast cancer will
vary depending on the patient's individual medical situation.
Updated: January 6, 2008
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