Breast Cancer Treatment in the USA
When looking for the best treatment options for breast cancer in the USA, it is important to understand the options available to you. While many people do not die from this disease, it can be devastating. About 250 thousand new cases are diagnosed in the US each year, and nearly 41 thousand women die from it. The prognosis for each type of breast cancer varies, but there are several treatments that can help you overcome the effects of this disease.
The first treatment option for breast cancer is surgery. During a lumpectomy, a doctor removes the tumor and a small margin of healthy tissue around it. However, radiation therapy may be recommended as an additional option for the treatment of larger or hormone receptor negative tumors. Depending on the type of cancer, radiation therapy may not be combined with surgery. Surgical options for breast cancer in the USA can be lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, quadrantectomy, or segmental mastectomy.
In some cases, surgery is the best option for breast cancer. Surgical methods may be easier to perform on a smaller tumor. Additionally, physicians may try new treatments on patients through clinical trials. If the disease has spread to lymph nodes, patients may require radiation. If this is the case, systemic therapies like chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy may be necessary before/after surgery. Depending on the size of the tumor, breast-conserving surgery can be an option for women who need a mastectomy.
Depending on the type of cancer and the stage of the disease, radiation therapy and surgery may be recommended. However, radiation therapy can be given twice in the same area. Therefore, it is important to note that the same doctor can perform both procedures. If radiation therapy is not an option for your breast cancer treatment, you may need chemotherapy and hormonal treatment. If you have a larger tumor, you may also need to undergo a mastectomy, but the tumor is small enough, a breast-conserving surgery can be performed.
The treatment for breast cancer varies from woman to woman, but it will depend on the stage of the disease. Generally, a lumpectomy is the most common treatment option for breast cancer. It is often followed by radiation therapy, which reduces the risk of recurrence. Usually, radiation therapy is given on the same side of the neck or near the breast. It is also an option for women who are undergoing chemotherapy.
Surgical options for breast cancer include a lumpectomy, a full mastectomy, and radiotherapy. Some women may also need to have chemotherapy. If the tumor has already grown in a large area, a mastectomy might not be necessary. The doctor will then recommend radiation therapy. If a smaller tumor is detected, a breast-conserving surgery may be an option. If the tumor has shrunk enough, a woman may be able to undergo breast-conserving surgery, which will preserve her body.