If you have breast cancer, your doctors will discuss your treatment options with you. To make an informed choice, ask about the pros and cons of each option, potential side effects, and how effective the treatment is likely to be. There are several ways to treat breast cancer, depending on the type and stage, including:
surgery to remove the cancer, such as lumpectomy (removal of the tumor and a small rim of tissue around it) or mastectomy (removal of the entire breast)
radiation therapy, using high-energy rays (such as x-rays) to destroy cancer cells
chemotherapy with drugs that kill breast cancer
hormone therapy medications that block estrogen and other hormones that fuel the growth of some breast cancers
targeted therapy drugs that act like smart bombs by targeting specific molecules involved in breast cancer development, growth, and spread while sparing normal cells
Modern breast cancer treatment usually involves a combination of these approaches.
Learn more about breast cancer treatments.
Here are some questions you might like to ask your surgeon.