Women who have undergone a breast-conserving surgery will need to complete their local therapy with radiation to the breast. A modified radical mastectomy, which includes removal of the breast and some of the lymph nodes under the arm. This procedure is usually, but not always, recommended to women with a stage III breast cancer. In addition, there are other types of mastectomies, which are considered under special situations, and which your doctor will discuss with you. Radiation to the breast complements surgery by killing remaining cells in the region.
Radiation therapy is administered by a special machine, which looks like a large x-ray machine.
Systemic Therapy Systemic therapy includes treatment that is aimed at killing cancer cells throughout the body. The main treatments include hormonal therapy and chemotherapy. Hormone therapy might decrease the levels of estrogen in your body, block the cancer cells directly, or work in other ways that are not entirely understood. Most hormones are given in an oral form, but some work by injections that prevent ovarian function. The most common hormone prescribed is the anti estrogen tamoxifen.