Chemotherapy Another treatment for breast cancer patients is chemotherapy, which is the systematic use of anticancer drugs given intravenously or by mouth. The drugs attack cancer cells throughout the body. When used as adjuvant therapy after a lumpectomy or mastectomy, chemotherapy can significantly reduce the risk of the breast cancer recurring. Chemotherapy also can be used as the primary treatment for women whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This treatment, which typically spans a period of three to six months, is given in cycles, with each session followed by a recovery period.
Some types of cancer require a combination of radiation and chemotherapy for effective treatment.
Herceptin An alternative to chemotherapy is the relatively new treatment called herceptin immunotherapy, which, when combined with radiation, has proven effective with breast cancer. Unlike chemotherapy, herceptin only targets cancer cells, leaving healthy cells alone. These drugs, such as tamoxifen and raloxifene, work by manipulating a woman's hormones, which many types of breast cancer depend upon for growth. Unlike tamoxifen, raloxifene hasn't been associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer. Currently, researchers are looking at the differences between the two drugs in one of the biggest clinical trials in the country.