What treatment is the best for Breast Cancer? HELP!!!?

Question

what is the best treatment for breast cancer for 40 year old women? My mom has cancer and she doesn't know what to do...

well.... she HAS gone to the doctor already and the doctor told her to choose what she would like to do about it....(some doctor huh???)

well....yah...

She's in stage II by the way...

Answer 1

(m)

Breast cancer is a complicated disease. Every woman's case is distinct. Your experience may be very different from those of friends or relatives who also had breast cancer. So there is no single "best" treatment. Only you and your team of health-care providers can work out the best approach for you. No matter what treatment you have, you will need regular checkups to make sure that you're staying healthy.
Doctors evaluate a woman's breast cancer in part by determining how large the tumor is and how far it's spread. This is called staging. It's just a way of summarizing your current condition. There are five basic stages, 0 through IV, and a number of sub-stages.

Staging doesn't tell the whole story. Other factors can affect your prognosis, such as the type of cancer, the speed with which the cancer is growing, your general health, your age, whether you had breast cancer before, and whether female hormones affect the cancer's growth.

If you know the stage of the disease that you have, you can use this quick guide to see what kinds of treatments might help.

Stage 0 Stage I Stage II Stage III Stage IV

Stage 0 Treatment Options

When needed, treatment for stage 0 breast cancer is very successful. The five-year survival rate is about 100%. This very early stage of the disease is not always actually cancer. Instead, it's often a precancerous condition. Treatment isn't always needed, and close observation may be enough. Treatments differ depending on what kind of stage 0 cancer you have. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or intraductal carcinoma is one type. In this condition, abnormal cells appear in the ducts of the breast. Sometimes, these cells become cancerous. That's why it's key to get treatment now. Here's a list of the typical treatments:

Surgery is a standard. For smaller tumors, you might get a lumpectomy, in which only the abnormal cells and some of the tissue are removed. Some women choose a mastectomy, in which the entire breast is removed. After a mastectomy, you might choose to have breast reconstruction surgery.
Radiation therapy is standard treatment after a lumpectomy. Radiation therapy attacks any abnormal cells that might have been missed and decreases the risk of another cancer.
Hormone therapy with tamoxifen after surgery may also help prevent cancer from developing in the same or opposite breast.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is the other type of stage 0 cancer. LCIS develops when abnormal cells appear in the lobes of the breast. Most women don't need treatment right away. However, LCIS raises the risk of getting cancer. So it's key to have frequent checkups with your doctor. Here are some treatment options:
Hormone therapy with tamoxifen to lower the risk of developing cancer.
Bilateral mastectomy -- the removal of both breasts -- is another option. Some women choose this approach because they are worried about getting cancer. They might have certain risk factors, like a strong family history of breast cancer. After surgery, you might choose to get breast reconstruction surgery. However, experts think that a bilateral mastectomy is a more extreme approach than women usually need.

Stage I Treatment Options

This is a very early stage of the disease. The cancer hasn't spread beyond the breast at all. So you have a number of good treatments to choose from. The five-year survival rate for women with stage I breast cancer is about 98%. This doesn't mean that these women will only live five years. Doctors just measure success rates for cancer treatment by seeing how women are doing five years after treatment. Women usually do well with a combination of treatments. Here are your basic options:

Surgery is a standard. Since the tumor is still small, you may get a lumpectomy. In this procedure, just the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue are removed. Some women get a mastectomy, in which the whole breast is removed. In either case, the surgeon will likely take out one or more of the lymph nodes. After a mastectomy, you might choose to get breast reconstruction surgery. Surgery treats the disease of which we are aware. The other treatments of radiation, chemotherapy, and/or hormone therapy are considered "adjuvant" (added) treatments for occult (or hidden) disease. They are used to reduce risk of breast cancer recurrence.
Radiation therapy is standard after a lumpectomy. It can kill off any cancer cells that were missed. Women with stage I cancer who get a mastectomy don't usually need radiation.
Chemotherapy is treatment with drugs that attack cancer cells. It's often used after surgery to lower the risk of the cancer coming back. Women who had larger tumors are more likely to need it.
Hormone therapy is sometimes used after surgery in women who have hormone receptor-positive cancer (tumors whose growth seems dependant on estrogen). In these women, medications can prevent the tumor from getting the hormone it needs to grow. These drugs include tamoxifen and newer aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex. Women who haven't reached menopause may consider having their ovaries removed to stop them from making hormones that help cancer grow. Again, women with larger tumors are more likely to need hormone therapy.
Biological therapy is a new approach. In about 25% of women with breast cancer, an excess of a protein known as HER2 makes the cancer spread quickly. Herceptin is a new drug that's been approved to treat women with metastatic breast cancer that is HER2-positive. It stops this protein from making the cancer grow and makes chemotherapy more effective. It is most often used in combination with chemotherapy. Very recent studies have led to its use in early breast cancer.
Clinical trials are open to many women with stage I cancer. A clinical trial may allow you access to cutting-edge treatments. Many new therapies -- new drugs, new treatments, and new combinations -- are in clinical trials now. Keep in mind that any successful treatment we have now started out in a clinical trial.

Stage II Treatment Options

With stage II breast cancer, the cancer is still contained within the breast and (in some cases) in nearby lymph nodes. Many treatments may help. The five-year survival rate for women with stage II cancer is estimated to be between 76% and 88%. It may be higher. This doesn't mean that these women will only live five years. Doctors just measure success rates for cancer treatment by seeing how women are doing five years after treatment. As with stage I cancer, you would likely use a combination of treatments.

Surgery is standard. For smaller tumors, you might get a lumpectomy, in which only the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue are removed. For larger tumors, you might need a mastectomy, in which the entire breast is removed. In either case, the surgeon will likely remove some of the lymph nodes. After a mastectomy, you might get breast reconstruction surgery.
Radiation therapy is standard for women who get a lumpectomy. It can kill cancer cells that were missed during surgery. Some women with stage II cancer who get a mastectomy will also need radiation, especially if the tumor was large.
Chemotherapy is often used after surgery. This treatment can destroy any remaining cancer cells that were missed. Chemotherapy may also be used as neoadjuvant therapy -- treatment before surgery to shrink a tumor. If it works, the tumor might then be small enough to remove in a lumpectomy.
Hormone therapy is sometimes used after surgery in women who have hormone receptor-positive cancer. In these women, medicines can prevent the tumor from getting the hormone it needs to grow. These drugs include tamoxifen and newer aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex. Women who haven't reached menopause may consider having their ovaries removed to stop them from making hormones that help cancer grow.
Biological therapy is a new approach. In about 25% of women with breast cancer, an excess of a protein known as HER2 makes the cancer spread quickly. Herceptin is a new drug that's been approved to treat women with metastatic breast cancer that is HER2-positive. It stops this protein from making the cancer grow and makes chemotherapy more effective. It is most often used in combination with chemotherapy. Very recent studies have led to its use in early breast cancer.
Clinical trials are open to many women with stage II cancer. A clinical trial may allow you access to cutting-edge treatments. Many new therapies -- new drugs, new treatments, and new combinations -- are in clinical trials now. Keep in mind that any successful treatment we have now started out in a clinical trial.

Stage III Treatment Options

In stage III, the cancer still hasn't spread far beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes. So even though the breast cancer is more advanced, the five-year survival rate is still about 49% to 56%. This doesn't mean that these women will only live five years. Doctors just measure success rates for cancer treatment by seeing how women are doing five years after treatment. A combination of different treatments often works best.

Chemotherapy is a common treatment. This approach can help destroy any cancer cells that remain after surgery. Chemotherapy may also be used before surgery. It can shrink the tumor to make it easier to remove. You would still need chemotherapy after surgery. In cases where surgery isn't an option, chemotherapy may be the main treatment.
Surgery is an option for many women. You might get a lumpectomy, in which a surgeon removes the tumor and surrounding tissue from the breast. Or you might need a mastectomy, in which the whole breast is removed. The surgeon would also remove lymph nodes. After a mastectomy, you might choose to get breast reconstruction surgery. For larger tumors, you may need chemotherapy before surgery.
Hormone therapy can help women with hormone receptor-positive cancers. In these women, medications can prevent the tumor from getting the hormone it needs to grow. These drugs include tamoxifen and newer aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex, Aromasin, or Femara. Hormone therapy may be used after surgery. It may also be used as a primary treatment if surgery isn't possible. Women who haven't reached menopause may consider having their ovaries removed to stop them from making hormones that help cancer grow.
Biological therapy is a new approach. In about 25% of women with breast cancer, an excess of a protein known as HER2 makes the cancer spread quickly. Herceptin is a new drug that's been approved to treat women with metastatic breast cancer that is HER2-positive. It stops this protein from making the cancer grow and makes chemotherapy more effective. It is most often used in combination with chemotherapy. Very recent studies have led to its use in early breast cancer.
Clinical trials are open to many women with stage II cancer. A clinical trial may allow you access to cutting-edge treatments. Many new therapies -- new drugs, new treatments, and new combinations -- are in clinical trials now. Keep in mind that any successful treatment we have now started out in a clinical trial.
Radiation therapy is standard for women with stage III cancer who get surgery. Radiation can destroy any of the cancer cells that were missed.

Stage IV Treatment Options

In stage IV breast cancer, the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body. Affected areas may include the bones, brain, lungs, or liver. Because multiple areas may be involved, focused treatments like surgery or radiation alone are not sufficient. So far, treatment of stage IV breast cancer does not provide a cure for the disease. By shrinking the cancer, treatment can slow down the disease, make you feel better, and let you live longer. Although patients with stage IV breast cancer may live for years, it is usually life-threatening at some point. Many factors influence this.

Here are some of the standard treatments:

Chemotherapy , or treatment with cancer drugs, is often the main treatment. It can slow down the growth of the cancer. Chemotherapy is often used in combination with hormone therapy or immunotherapy.
Hormone therapy can be key for women with hormone receptor-positive cancers. These are cancers that need hormones to grow. Tamoxifen has been used to block the effects of estrogen for decades. But newer drugs, like the aromatase inhibitors Arimidex and Femara, and the aromatase inactivator Aromasin, also show great promise. They reduce the amount of estrogen your body makes. By cutting off the supply of estrogen, you can choke the cancer and slow it down. Women who haven't reached menopause may consider having their ovaries removed to stop them from making hormones that help cancer grow.
Biological therapy is a new approach. In about 25% of women with breast cancer, an excess of a protein known as HER2 makes the cancer spread quickly. Herceptin is a new drug that's been approved to treat women with metastatic breast cancer that is HER2-positive. It stops this protein from making the cancer cells grow. It may also boost your immune system, giving it the strength to fight the cancer itself. It is most often used in combination with chemotherapy.
Clinical trials are open to many women with stage IV cancer. A clinical trial may allow you access to cutting-edge treatments. Many new therapies -- new drugs, new treatments, and new combinations -- are in clinical trials now. Keep in mind that any successful treatment we have now started out in a clinical trial.
Surgery and radiation are used in some cases. These treatments aren't used to cure the cancer. But they may help treat pain and other symptoms in areas where the cancer has spread.
Other drugs may also help treat some of the side effects of breast cancer treatment, such as nausea, fatigue, and infections.

Answer 2

It doesn't sound like your mom is working with a doctor who's going to assist her. Find another doctor, preferably as one person said, an Oncologist (and keep looking until your mom finds one she's comfortable with) since they specialize in the treatment options and what works best for your mom's particular type of cancer.

There are a lot of resources available online for you to check out. The more education you and your mom get regarding her particular type of breast cancer, the better her chances are. Not knowing what to ask or what tests should be run and simply trusting a particular doctor is not the best idea. My mom asked her doctor to treat her like he would if she were his wife or daughter and he didn't run blood tests for the entire 2 years he treated her after she was diagnosed. Because of that, we didn't know in time that the cancer had moved. So, get second opinions and start reading all you can!

The source I listed below has 2 pages of resource sites that offer a TON of education and places to find answers, treatments, doctors, etc.

Answer 3

My wife found a lump in one of her breasts earlier this year. She went to the doctor who fast tracked her to one of our local hospitals.She had a biopsy and a mammogram. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had an operation to remove the lump and 13 lymph nodes. The operation was a success and in theory she could have declined any other treatment because the cancer had gone. However the consultant recommended chemotherapy,radiotherapy and herceptin in the hope that the cancer would not return. It was a very aggressive cancer and we chose to go ahead with the treatment. She has finished chemo(10 sessions) and is waiting for radiotherapy to start. She has had 3 sessions of herceptin and this will continue every 3 weeks for about 12 months. In the UK approx 41,000 people per year are diagnosed with breast cancer. If caught early enough and treated the survival rate is exceptionally high. It is absolutely essential that if anyone even remotely things something is wrong that they get medical advice. Good luck to your mother. I sincerely hope things work out for you both as it can be very traumatic. Be strong and remain positive.

Answer 4

contact the Susan G. Comen foundation. Go for the what ever the doctor recommends. Take into consideration her age and health and how far it is spread. Most people shrink it and surgically remove the tumor and continue on chemo. If she is old and has a suppressed immune system and cancer is prodominate in the family that remove the whole breast. I would rather have a long life thanworry about outer flesh that is no longer need. Breast are for milk production. Women hardly use them anymore. That is one way to look at it.

Answer 5

I am sure the doc told her the options, but he can't make her do anything. After all SHE has to say "OK, lets do that".
Talking to the doctor about his recommendation is the first step. I know it is scary as I have been in the same place. I went with the docs recommendation, who am I to say what is the best plan, I am not a doctor.
Tell her to hit the cancer with everything that is offered. It is scary to think about chemo and radiation, but life is more important then loosing hair (that will grow back) or the side affects that she is going to deal with.

Answer 6

I had a similar reaction when I was diagnosed. Initially it was really scary that they were offering me options rather than telling me what they were going to do. I asked lots of questions (on of which was asking my doctor point blank "what would you recommend if I were your mother, wife, sister?"), I did a lot of reading online and at the library. In the long run I was glad that I was so "in charge" of my treatment. I even made some choices that my doctor's hadn't offered me. I had an estrogen positive tumor and rather than take two different meds to decrease estrogen production, I opted to have my ovaries removed. The gynecologist I was referred too actually tried to talk me out of it, but in spite of hot flashes and mood swings, I'm glad I did it.

Your mom should write down questions before each appointment since it's easy to get caught up and forget something. I wish both of you the best of luck and you will be in my prayers.

Answer 7

Generally, a lumpectomy is done to remove the cancerous tissue surgically. Depending on the results usually radiation treatment is suggested. There is a new radiation treatment that is much shorter if she is a candidate for the procedure. It is called mammosite seed radiation. You can look it up on the web under www.mammosite.com.......good luck and change doctors.

Answer 8

Cancer Treatment Centers of America are the best!

Answer 9

Only a doctor can answer that question. Breast Cancer also has different stages and different treatments.
AND DO NT FORGET: IT IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE
good luck to you and your Mom

Answer 10

Tell your mom to switch doctors.....to an oncologist who will explain the best options to her, there are dozens of ways of combining chemo, rads and hormone therapies that are all chosen to match a woman's pathology reports and health status............she needs a doctor who is more of a partner in her treatment, it sounds like the one she has now is 'retired on the job'

Answer 11

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