Identifying the Right Breast Cancer Treatment on the Central Coast
Breast cancer will affect one in four women. Most women today are able to detect their breast cancer before the cancer has spread to an advanced stage. Thanks to cancer screenings that include an annual mammogram, women are able to discover breast cancer in early stages when treatments are most effective.
The most effective treatments for breast cancer depend on the stage of your cancer. Your Dignity Health Central Coast doctor will listen to your questions and concerns, taking your medical history and lifestyle into account, to develop a personalized treatment and prevention plan for you.
Have questions about your options for breast cancer treatment? Find a Doctor today at Dignity Health who can discuss effective breast cancer treatment on the Central Coast of California.
Exploring Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage at Dignity Health Central Coast
There are more breast cancer treatment options available for women than ever before. Your Dignity Health Central Coast doctor provides quality care that addresses your physical, mental, and spiritual needs. The doctor will discuss the benefits of each breast cancer treatment option and the side effects.
The best treatment for you will depend on several factors, including:
- The stage of your cancer
- What your biopsy results say about your tumor
- Your personal preferences
There are two types of surgery for breast cancer: Lumpectomy, which removes the tumor and some of the tissue surrounding it, and mastectomy, which removes the entire breast tissue.
Additional Treatment Options for Breast Cance
Your treatment options also may include:
- Radiation therapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapies
- Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy, which helps to shrink tumors, is the main treatment option for women who can’t have surgery. It also can treat cancer that spreads to other parts of the body. Radiation therapy may provide relief for your symptoms when breast cancer reaches advanced stages. It can be given alone or with other treatments. Radiation therapy may be needed before or after surgery.
Certain types of breast cancers grow in response to the hormones progesterone and estrogen. Hormone therapy medicines lower estrogen levels or block the hormone receptor on the cancer cell. This type of therapy is an option for hormone receptor-positive breast cancers.
Targeted therapies can specifically identify and attack cells that have a specific cancer marker. Your Dignity Health Central Coast doctor may be able to use targeted therapies to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancers and HER2-positive breast cancers.
Like radiation, doctors can use chemotherapy before surgery, after surgery, or as a main treatment when surgery isn’t an option. Chemotherapy can be used in combination with radiation to stop cancer cells from growing. Chemotherapy is a type of medicine that either destroys cancer cells or prevents their growth.
Talk to a Dignity Health doctor for compassionate care and a personalized breast cancer treatment plan on the Central Coast of California.
Dignity Health’s trusted doctors provide comprehensive breast cancer treatment options on the Central Coast.