Question: Breast cancer at 84.    My mother was just diagnost with breast cancer. She is 84 years old, her tumor started in the milk duct and is small in size, their is a mass as well in the same breast. He is scheduled for a lumpectomy to remove both. Because of age we would like suggestions on treatment options after surgery.

Reference:
Breast cancer (Treatment): Treatment is based on many factors, including:     - Type of breast cancer   - Stage of the cancer (staging is a tool your providers use to find out how advanced the cancer is)   - Whether the cancer is sensitive to certain hormones   - Whether the cancer overproduces (overexpresses) the HER2/neu protein     Cancer treatments may include:     - Hormone therapy.   - Chemotherapy, which uses medicines to kill cancer cells.   - Radiation therapy, which is used to destroy cancerous tissue.   - Surgery to remove cancerous tissue: A lumpectomy removes the breast lump. Mastectomy removes all or part of the breast and possibly nearby structures. Nearby lymph nodes may also be removed during surgery.   - Targeted therapy uses medicine to attack the gene changes in cancer cells. Hormone therapy is an example of targeted therapy. It blocks certain hormones that fuel cancer growth.        Cancer treatment can be local or systemic:     - Local treatments involve only the area of disease. Radiation and surgery are forms of local treatment. They are most effective when the cancer has not spread outside the breast.   - Systemic treatments affect the entire body. Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are types of systemic treatment.     Most women receive a combination of treatments. For women with stage I, II, or III breast cancer, the main goal is to treat the cancer and prevent it from returning (recurring). For women with stage IV cancer, the goal is to improve symptoms and help them live longer. In most cases, stage IV breast cancer cannot be cured.     - Stage 0 and ductal carcinoma: Lumpectomy plus radiation or mastectomy is the standard treatment.   - Stage I and II: Lumpectomy plus radiation or mastectomy with lymph node removal is the standard treatment. Chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and other targeted therapy may also be used after surgery.   - Stage III: Treatment involves surgery, possibly followed by chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and other targeted therapy.   - Stage IV: Treatment may involve surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, other targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatments.      After treatment, some women continue to take medicines for a time. All women continue to have blood tests, mammograms, and other tests after treatment to monitor for the return of cancer or development of another breast cancer.   Women who have had a mastectomy may have reconstructive breast surgery. This will be done either at the time of mastectomy or later.

Answer: Cancer treatment can be local or systemic: - Local treatments involve only the area of disease. Radiation and surgery are forms of local treatment. ...  A lumpectomy removes the breast lump. .. They are most effective when the cancer has not spread outside the breast. - Systemic treatments affect the entire body. Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are types of systemic treatment. Most women receive a combination of treatments. Treatment may involve surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, other targeted therapy, or a combination of these treatments. After treatment, some women continue to take medicines for a time. All women continue to have blood tests, mammograms, and other tests after treatment to monitor for the return of cancer or development of another breast cancer.