An operation to remove the breast is called a mastectomy. Lumpectomies and segmental mastectomies are types of breast-sparing surgeries that remove the cancer but not the breast. Breast-sparing surgeries usually are followed by radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells that may remain. Often, the lymph nodes under that arm also are removed to help determine whether cancer cells have entered the lymph system. A new technique, sentinal node biopsy, currently is under investigation at the South Carolina Cancer Center.
Radiation is often the primary, and sometimes the only, treatment required for many types of cancer.
Radiation therapy also can be effective when used with other treatments such as surgery or chemotherapy. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is usually used to eliminate microscopic deposits of cancer cells or reduce the number of cancer cells. The lining of the ducts and lobules in the breast normally change under the influence of hormones. For this reason, hormonal therapy often plays an important role in managing breast cancer.