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The goal of treatment is to remove most or all of the cancer. Doing so may preserve the breast and its function. The treatments will also help to keep the cancer from spreading or coming back. Breast cancer is treated with more than one method. How it is done depends on the type of breast cancer, age, general health, and outlook. Comfort measures are given to those with later stages of cancer.

Your care team is made up of many types of health professionals. This includes doctors, surgeons, nurses, and pharmacists. Keep in touch with your team and to go recommended appointments. This will help you get the most from the treatments.

Breast cancer is treated with:

Surgery
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Lifestyle changes
Hormonal therapy
Medications
Other treatments

Treatments for many cancers are always changing. Some have yet to be found. As a result, clinical trials exist around the world. You may wish to ask your doctor if you should enlist in a clinical trial. You can find out about them at the US National Institutes of Health website.

REFERENCES:

Breast cancer. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/breast-disorders/breast-cancer. Updated January 2018. Accessed March 11, 2019.

Breast cancer in women. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T113654/Breast-cancer-in-women. Updated November 26, 2018. Accessed March 11, 2019.

Treating breast cancer. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/treatment.html. Accessed March 11, 2019.

Treatment option overview. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/patient/breast-treatment-pdq#section/_185. Updated February 6, 2019. Accessed March 11, 2019.

Last reviewed December 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP  Last Updated: 3/11/2019