The goal of treating early and locally-advanced breast cancers is to get rid of the cancer and keep it from coming back.
Treatment includes some combination of:
• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Hormone therapy
• HER2-targeted therapy
• CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy
• Immunotherapy
• PARP inhibitor therapy
These treatments aim to eliminate the breast cancer and eliminate any remaining cancer cells in the body.
Your breast cancer treatment plan
Your treatment plan for breast cancer will be tailored to your individual needs and preferences, and will be determined in collaboration with your medical team.
Treatment for early and locally-advanced breast cancer is based on:
• The biology of the tumor, including biomarkers (such as hormone receptor status and HER2 status) are taken into consideration when creating a treatment plan.
• Results of tumor profiling tests are considered for some cases of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
• The stage of breast cancer is an important factor in determining the treatment plan.
• Your overall health, age, menopausal status, and other medical issues are taken into account when creating a treatment plan.
• Your personal preferences are considered when deciding on a treatment plan.
Local therapy and systemic therapy
Treatment for breast cancer that is in its early stages can be separated into two categories: Local therapy and Systemic therapy.
● Local therapy
This treatment targets the cancer in a specific area, such as the breast, chest wall, and lymph nodes in the armpit. It aims to prevent cancer from recurring in that area.
This type of therapy usually includes surgical procedures, sometimes in combination with radiation therapy to the breast and surrounding lymph nodes.
● Systemic therapy (neoadjuvant therapy and adjuvant therapy)
This treatment targets cancer cells throughout the body, in addition to surgery.
This type of therapy is used to eliminate any cancer cells that may have spread from the breast to other areas of the body.
Adjuvant therapy is the term used when given after surgery, and neoadjuvant therapy is the term when given before surgery.