Breast Cancer types and treatments
Breast cancer having several types, it starts in the cells of the breast. It can occur in both men and women, but it is much more common in women. Symptoms may include a lump or thickening in the breast or armpit, changes in breast size or shape, skin dimpling, nipple changes or discharge, and breast pain.
There are several types of breast cancer, including:
- Ductal carcinoma: The most common type of breast cancer that starts in the cells lining the milk ducts.
- Lobular carcinoma: Cancer that begins in the milk-producing glands of the breast.
- Inflammatory breast cancer: A rare and aggressive type of breast cancer that can cause the breast to look red and swollen.
- Triple-negative breast cancer: A type of breast cancer that tests negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2 protein.
- HER2-positive breast cancer: A type of breast cancer that tests positive for the HER2 protein.
- Paget’s disease of the nipple: A rare form of breast cancer that begins in the nipple and spreads to the areola and other areas of the breast.
- Phyllodes tumor: A rare tumor that develops in the connective tissue of the breast.
Breast Cancer Treatment Options
Treatment options may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and targeted therapy. Early detection through screening tests like mammograms can improve the chances of successful treatment.
Through Surgey
Surgery is one of the main treatment options for breast cancer, and it involves the removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue. The type of surgery recommended depends on the size and location of the tumor, as well as other factors such as the stage of the cancer and the patient’s overall health.
Some common types of breast cancer surgery include:
- Lumpectomy: A surgery in which only the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue are removed.
- Mastectomy: A surgery in which the entire breast is removed. There are several types of mastectomy, including simple or total mastectomy, modified radical mastectomy, and radical mastectomy.
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy: A surgery in which the lymph nodes that are most likely to contain cancer cells are removed and examined for signs of cancer.
- Axillary lymph node dissection: A surgery in which several lymph nodes are removed from under the arm to check for the spread of cancer.
Chemotherapy Treatment
Chemotherapy is a treatment for breast cancer that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. It may be used before surgery to shrink the tumor, after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells, or as the primary treatment for certain types of breast cancer. Chemotherapy drugs can be given in several ways, including by mouth or injection into a vein. Treatment usually involves a series of sessions over several months, with rest periods in between to allow the body to recover.
Chemotherapy can have side effects, including nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, and an increased risk of infection. However, many women are able to manage these side effects with the help of their healthcare team, and some side effects can be prevented or reduced with medications.
The specific drugs used, as well as the duration and schedule of treatment, depend on the individual patient and the stage and type of breast cancer. Chemotherapy may also be combined with other treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy to improve the chances of successful treatment.
Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy is a type of treatment for breast cancer that targets the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which can fuel the growth of some types of breast cancer. It is used to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and to treat metastatic breast cancer.
It may involve medications that block the body’s production of estrogen, such as aromatase inhibitors, or medications that block the effects of estrogen on breast cancer cells, such as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) or selective estrogen receptor downregulators (SERDs). Hormone therapy may also be used in combination with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Hormone therapy can have side effects, including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, joint pain, and an increased risk of blood clots or other health problems.
However, many women are able to manage these side effects with the help of their healthcare team, and hormone therapy is an important part of the overall treatment plan for many women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The specific type of hormone therapy used depends on the individual patient and the stage and type of breast cancer.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is a type of treatment for breast cancer that uses drugs to target specific molecules or pathways that contribute to the growth and spread of cancer cells. Unlike chemotherapy, which can affect both cancerous and healthy cells, targeted therapy is designed to specifically target cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells. Targeted therapy for breast cancer may involve drugs that target the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which is overexpressed in about 20% of breast cancers.
HER2-targeted therapies include monoclonal antibodies such as trastuzumab and pertuzumab, as well as small molecule inhibitors such as lapatinib and neratinib.Targeted therapy may also involve drugs that inhibit other pathways involved in cancer growth and spread, such as the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway or the cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) pathway.
Examples of targeted therapies that inhibit these pathways include alpelisib, ribociclib, and palbociclib.Targeted therapy can have side effects, including nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, and an increased risk of infection, but they are generally less severe than the side effects of chemotherapy. The specific type of targeted therapy used depends on the individual patient and the stage and type of breast cancer.
