Treatment OptionsBreast Cancer Treatment by Stage

Breast cancer is a complex disease that’s different for every woman. Staging is a way for doctors to describe the disease.

Stage 0 Breast Cancer Treatment

Some experts consider stage 0 the earliest stage of breast cancer. Others think of it as a sort of precancer stage.

Stage I Breast Cancer Treatment

In this stage, the cancer either hasn't spread beyond the breast or has spread in a very small amount to a lymph node.

Stage II Breast Cancer Treatment

In stage II, the cancer is still contained within the breast and in some cases in nearby lymph nodes.

Stage III Breast Cancer Treatment

In stage III, the cancer has spread beyond the breast and into nearby lymph nodes.

Stage IV Breast Cancer Treatment

With stage IV, the breast cancer has spread to other parts of your body, affecting the bones, brain, lungs, or liver.

Breakthroughs in Finding & Treating Breast Cancer

Researchers are always on the hunt for new and better ways to diagnose and treat breast cancer.

Radiation and ChemotherapyRadiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

Radiation therapy uses high levels of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing, dividing, or spreading.

Proton Therapy for Breast Cancer

Proton therapy is used to treat cancers near delicate or critical body areas when radiation can affect those areas.

Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Chemotherapy for breast cancer uses medicine to kill cancer cells.

Alkylating Agents for Breast Cancer

Alkylating agents were among the first anti-cancer drugs and are the most commonly used.

Taxanes for Breast Cancer

Taxanes are a type of chemotherapy and have been a cornerstone of breast cancer therapy for 40 years.

Hormone TherapyHormone Therapy for Breast Cancer Treatment

Hormone therapy, also called endocrine therapy, adds, blocks, or removes those chemicals to treat breast cancer.

SERMs and SERDs for Breast Cancer

Selective estrogen receptor modulators and selective estrogen receptor down regulators are therapies for breast cancer.

Tamoxifen for Breast Cancer

Tamoxifen is a medication that blocks the female hormone estrogen in the body.

Does Tamoxifen Cause Weight Gain?

Tamoxifen has been loosely associated with weight gain. Studies have tracked side effects of the drug for years.

Precision TreatmentsTargeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

Targeted therapy, or biologic therapy, uses the body's immune system or hormonal system to fight breast cancer cells.

PI3K Inhibitors for ER+ Breast Cancer

About 80% of breast cancers are estrogen-receptor-positive, or ER+ breast cancer, the most common breast cancer subtype.

What Are Anthracyclines for Breast Cancer?

Anthracyclines are anti-tumor antibiotics that work on the DNA inside cancer cells.

Treating HER2-Negative Breast CancerTreatment for HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer

When you have HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, treatment usually focuses on managing the disease, not curing it.

Managing Treatment Side Effects of HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

With HER2-negative breast cancer, your doctor will recommend treatments that will likely cause different side effects.

SurgeryMastectomy (Breast Removal Surgery)

A mastectomy is a way to treat breast cancer by surgically removing a breast and sometimes nearby tissues.

Lumpectomy (Partial Mastectomy)

A lumpectomy is a type of surgery for breast cancer to remove cancer or other abnormal tissue from your breast.

Skin-Sparing Mastectomy

A skin-sparing mastectomy is a newer technique that tries to preserve as much of the skin as possible.

Breast Reconstruction Surgery

If you’ve had a mastectomy because of breast cancer, you may choose to have reconstructive plastic surgery.

DIEP Flap Reconstruction Surgery

For DIEP flap surgery, doctors take tissues from your belly to make a breast.

Nipple and Areola Reconstruction and Tattoos

Nipple and areola reconstruction after breast reconstruction can boost your body image and help you adjust psychologically.

Breast Cancer Surgery Recovery

These are general guidelines for recovering from breast cancer surgery. Always follow your doctor's instructions.

Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Surgery

It’s common for women to get this condition after their breast cancer treatment.

Exercise and Nutrition After Breast Cancer Surgery

After you get a breast cancer operation, good nutrition and exercise can help you regain your health.

Treatment Side Effects & Complementary TherapiesSide Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer treatments can affect healthy cells and can change how you feel. This could cause a number of side effects.

How Does Breast Cancer Affect Your Body?

In most cases, the biggest life-changing effects of breast cancer come from the treatment, not from the disease.

Dealing With Peripheral Neuropathy After Treatment

If you’ve had taxane-based chemotherapy or other treatments, you may form a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

Complementary Treatments for Breast Cancer

Complementary and alternative treatments help some women lessen the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy.

Lifestyle Interventions During TreatmentHow to Feel Better During Breast Cancer Treatment

Cancer medicines are strong. Although their side effects can be intense, you've got ways to ease them.

Fighting Breast Cancer-Related Fatigue

You're likely to have some fatigue while you're being treated for breast cancer or any other kind of cancer.

Breast Cancer Treatment and Weight Changes

Your weight might change when you get treated for breast cancer. Most women gain pounds, but others lose some.

Exercising During Breast Cancer Treatment

When you have breast cancer, exercise may be the last thing on your mind.

Juicing During Breast Cancer Treatment

Healthy juices on their own don’t make up for meals. But they’re an easy way to work fruits and vegetables into your day.

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