Over 12% of American women will face breast cancer. We’re here so they never have to face it alone.
Each year in the United States, more than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Here at Green Bay Oncology, we’ve joined forces with more than 7,000 women to develop a plan to overcome breast cancer and continue to live healthy, happy lives.
Breast cancer diagnosis
Although many people associate breast cancer diagnosis with the self-discovery of a lump, the fact is most breast lumps are not caused by cancer. In addition, many women with early breast cancer have no symptoms at all. Due to these factors, we recommend women talk to their doctors about regular manual breast exams, mammograms and other imaging techniques. Successful treatment is much more likely when breast cancer is detected early.
Through the diagnosis process, and beyond, information is a must. Cancer experts can be a primary source of information and we’re here to answer any questions you have. We also understand you may want to look to additional resources.
We encourage you to empower yourself with knowledge, and the Internet can provide valuable reference materials. The key is to know that the information is coming from reputable sources. We recommend the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, and American Society of Clinical Oncology.
To learn more about detection and diagnosis, see more resources from the National Cancer Institute or schedule a consultation with one of our breast cancer experts.
Why does breast cancer occur?
When first diagnosed with breast cancer, nearly all women wonder what caused it. Unfortunately, there is not always a simple answer or even an answer at all. Hormones seem to play a role in many cases of breast cancer, but just how this happens is not fully understood. A small percentage of cases can be attributed to inherited genes, exposure to estrogen or prolonged alcohol consumption. However, in most cases, breast cancer is spontaneous and cannot be accounted for by genetics or environmental exposure.
How is breast cancer treated?
We’ve found that the most effective treatment of breast cancer often requires more than one type of care. Several factors will influence your care plan, including your overall health, your age and medical history, the type and stage of your breast cancer, and your goals and preferences for treatment. We will talk with you to discuss these factors and together we will determine your best course of treatment.
Methods of breast cancer treatment include local options—surgery and radiation therapy—and systemic options— chemotherapy and anti-hormonal therapy.
Surgery:
Initial treatment for breast cancer often includes surgery to remove the affected tissue. The surgery may be one of the following:
Lumpectomy – A breast-conserving surgical procedure that involves removal of the cancer and some surrounding breast tissue.
Simple or total mastectomy – Removal of the entire breast containing cancer.
Modified radical mastectomy – Removal of the entire breast along with underarm lymph node.
Radiation Therapy:
Radiation is a form of light therapy that is used to eradicate any small cancer cells that remain after surgery. It may also be used to help control symptoms if cancer spreads.
Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer medication to treat cancerous cells. There are many different kinds of chemotherapy drugs, including oral and intravenous options. Treatments are often given in cycles, alternating treatment periods and periods of recovery.
Anti-Hormonal Therapy:
In some breast cancer cases, the hormone estrogen causes the affected cells to grow. These tumors are known to be estrogen-receptor-positive. Anti-hormonal therapy uses medication to prevent estrogen from stimulating further tumor growth.
Clinical Trials:
New treatment options are continually being developed. As the region’s only participant in the National Cancer Institute’s Community Clinical Oncology Program, we conduct national-level clinical trials here in our communities to help identify new ways to detect, diagnose, and treat cancer.
Types of treatment by stage of breast cancer
Staging indicates the severity of a person’s cancer and is integral in determining the appropriate treatment.
- stage 1
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Stage 1 breast cancer is confined to the breast.
Stage 1 cancers can be treated with surgery, either a lumpectomy, partial mastectomy or mastectomy. The lymph nodes will also be evaluated. Breast reconstruction may be done at the same time as surgery.
Radiation therapy is usually given after breast-conserving surgery.
- stage 2
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Stage 2 breast cancer involves the breast and lymph nodes.
LOCAL THERAPY: Surgery and radiation therapy are similar to those for stage 1 tumors, except that in stage 2, radiation therapy to the chest wall may be considered if the tumor is large or cancer cells are found in several lymph nodes.
SYSTEMIC THERAPY: Surgery and radiation therapy are similar to those for stage 1 tumors, except that in stage 2, radiation therapy to the chest wall may be considered if the tumor is large or cancer cells are found in several lymph nodes.
- stage 3
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Stage 3 involves the breast and nodes and is locally advanced.
Local treatment for some stage 3 breast cancers is largely the same as that for stage 2 breast cancers. Tumors that are small enough and have not grown into nearby tissues, may be removed by lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy.
Often, stage 3 cancers are treated with chemotherapy before surgery. This may shrink the tumor enough that only a lumpectomy or other breast-conserving surgery is needed. Otherwise, the breast is treated with mastectomy.
- stage 4
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Stage 4 breast cancer has spread outside the breast to other organs, commonly the lungs, liver, bones or brain.
Although surgery and/or radiation may be useful in some cases, systemic therapy is the main treatment.
MORE BREAST CANCER RESOURCES:
For more information on breast cancer and related treatment options, we recommend the following resources: