Her doctor can explain to you the symptoms of your mother's disease, as well as the different treatment choices and their benefits and side effects. Understanding what treatments are available may make it easier for you to help your mother make choices about her treatment. Treatment for advanced breast cancer includes treating the cancer, as well as the symptoms the disease can cause when it spreads. Generally, advanced breast cancer is treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, surgery, other medications, or a combination of treatments. Treatment varies with each woman, with consideration given to the stage of her disease, her age, her tumor biology, whether or not she is past menopause, and other specific needs.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells.
Hormone therapies use hormones to stop the cancer cells from growing. Surgery removes the cancerous cells in an operation. Other medications may be necessary to treat specific symptoms related to the spread of disease. Your mother's doctor can explain the various treatments or combination of treatments appropriate for her. Use the Cancer Care line for information on issues that need to be explained.