What Is The Best Treatment For Breast Cancer

Mission Breast Program High Risk Clinic

The Mission Breast Program High Risk Clinic is a comprehensive program dedicated to identifying women at a high risk for breast and ovarian cancer, initiating timely screenings to identify cancer as early as possible and developing personalized strategies to reduce the risk of cancer.

Treatment Of Early Localized Or Operable Breast Cancer

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

• A clinical trial of a new chemotherapy regimen.
• A clinical trial of monoclonal antibody therapy.

For patients with triple-negative or HER2-positive disease, the response to preoperative therapy may be used as a guide in choosing the best treatment after surgery.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.

Best Breast Cancer Clinic In Switzerland

Medical tourism is Switzerland has not been developed great yet. According to IMTJ data, only 35,000 patients visit Switzerland for treatment annually. They are mostly from Europe, the USA, Asia, and the Middle East. Switzerland healthcare system takes the 3rd place in the world according to the Healthcare Access and Quality Index research. High treatment cost is its main disadvantage. If you choose Switzerland, you can be sure of receiving the best breast cancer treatment.

What makes Générale Beaulieu one of the best cancer centers in the world:

• The hospital is awarded by prestigious “Breast Cancer” quality label.
• Générale Beaulieu has 120 years of experience and belongs to Swiss Medical Network, one of the leading in Switzerland.

Générale Beaulieu is certified by the Swiss Leading Hospitals that means the center is “Best in class”. This makes Générale Beaulieu one of the best places for breast cancer treatment.

Générale Beaulieu is a leading private clinic in Switzerland. The Hospital has 24 Departments and is a member of prestigious medical networks and associations. The Robotic Department is the strongest in the country.

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Ovarian Ablation Or Suppression

In women who have not yet experienced the menopause, oestrogen is produced by the ovaries.

Ovarian ablation or suppression stops the ovaries working and producing oestrogen.

Ablation can be done using surgery or radiotherapy. It permanently stops the ovaries from working and means you’ll experience the menopause early.

Ovarian suppression involves using a medicine called goserelin, which is a luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist .

Your periods will stop while you’re taking it, although they should start again once your treatment is complete.

If you’re approaching the menopause , your periods may not start again after you stop taking goserelin.

Goserelin comes as an injection you have once a month.

How Can I Protect Myself From Breast Cancer

Follow these three steps for early detection:

• Get a mammogram. The American Cancer Society recommends having a baseline mammogram at age 35, and a screening mammogram every year after age 40. Mammograms are an important part of your health history. Recently, the US Preventive Services Task Force came out with new recommendations regarding when and how often one should have mammograms. These include starting at age 50 and having them every two years. We do not agree with this, but we are in agreement with the American Cancer Society and have not changed our guidelines, which recommend yearly mammograms starting at age 40.
• Examine your breasts each month after age 20. You will become familiar with the contours and feel of your breasts and will be more alert to changes.
• Have your breast examined by a healthcare provider at least once every three years after age 20, and every year after age 40. Clinical breast exams can detect lumps that may not be detected by mammogram.

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Radiation Therapy And Mastectomy

Most women who have a mastectomy dont need radiation therapy if theres no cancer in the lymph nodes.

In some cases, radiation therapy is used after mastectomy to treat the chest wall, the axillary lymph nodes and/or the lymph nodes around the collarbone.

Playing An Active Role

You play an active role in making treatment decisions by understanding your breast cancer diagnosis, your treatment options and possible side effects.

Together, you and your health care provider can choose treatments that fit your values and lifestyle.

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Top Breast Cancer Hospital In Thailand

About 2.4 million medical tourists visit Thailand annually according to IMTJ . Thai healthcare is so attractive to foreigners due to:

• International approval 43 medical centers are accredited by JCI , the gold standard in global healthcare.
• 2-3 times cheaper treatment than in the USA or Canada, so patients from these countries choose Thailand to cure breast cancer and other disorders.
• Thai doctors, working in the top breast cancer centers, interchange their experience with leading American and European colleagues.

What makes Bumrungrad International one of the top breast cancer hospitals in Thailand and the world:

• Top choice among medical tourism 520,000 international patients from 190 countries entrust their health to Bumrungrad annually.
• The hospital is considered among Top 10 most advanced facilities in the world according to the top Master’s in Healthcare Administration Ranking. So, only the latest technologies are applied for breast cancer treatment.
• IBM Watson for oncology treatment is used at Bumrungrad. This is an innovative supercomputer that analyzes the patient’s disease history and compares it with data of the latest medical developments. You will receive the most effective breast cancer treatment program with 96% accuracy. This makes Bumrungrad one of the best breast cancer treatment centers.
• Bumrungrad meets the strict Global Healthcare Accreditation standards This confirms the high standards of medical service for international patients.

What Are The Risk Factors For Breast Cancer

Like many conditions, risk factors for breast cancer fall into the categories of things you can control and things that you cannot control. Risk factors affect your chances of getting a disease, but having a risk factor does not mean that you are guaranteed to get a certain disease.

Controllable risk factors for breast cancer

• Alcohol consumption. The risk of breast cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. For instance, women who consume two or three alcoholic beverages daily have an approximately 20% higher risk of getting breast cancer than women who do not drink at all.
• Body weight. Being obese is a risk factor for breast cancer. It is important to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
• Breast implants. Having silicone breast implants and resulting scar tissue make it harder to distinguish problems on regular mammograms. It is best to have a few more images to improve the examination. There is also a rare cancer called anaplastic large cell lymphoma that is associated with the implants.
• Choosing not to breastfeed. Not breastfeeding can raise the risk.
• Using hormone-based prescriptions. This includes using hormone replacement therapy during menopause for more than five years and taking certain types of birth control pills.

Non-controllable risk factors for breast cancer

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Surgery To The Lymph Nodes

Breast cancer can spread to other parts of the body. It usually first spreads to the lymph nodes in the armpit close to the breast. You usually have an ultrasound scan to look at the lymph nodes in the armpit. You may also have a lymph node biopsy.

You might have surgery to the lymph nodes. This may be a sentinel lymph node biopsy where the surgeon removes 1 to 3 nodes. Or you may have an axillary clearance, where more nodes are taken out.

• Find out more about surgery to remove lymph nodes

Physical Emotional And Social Effects Of Cancer

In general, cancer and its treatment cause physical symptoms and side effects, as well as emotional, social, and financial effects. Managing all of these effects is called palliative care or supportive care. It is an important part of your care that is included along with treatments intended to slow, stop, or eliminate the cancer.

Palliative care focuses on improving how you feel during treatment by managing symptoms and supporting patients and their families with other, non-medical needs. Any person, regardless of age or type and stage of cancer, may receive this type of care. And it often works best when it is started right after a cancer diagnosis. People who receive palliative care along with treatment for the cancer often have less severe symptoms, better quality of life, and report that they are more satisfied with treatment.

Palliative treatments vary widely and often include medication, nutritional changes, relaxation techniques, emotional and spiritual support, and other therapies. You may also receive palliative treatments similar to those meant to get rid of the cancer, such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy.

• Music therapy, meditation, stress management, and yoga for reducing anxiety and stress.

• Meditation, relaxation, yoga, massage, and music therapy for depression and to improve other mood problems.

• Meditation and yoga to improve general quality of life.

• Acupressure and acupuncture to help with nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.

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How Do Tamoxifen Raloxifene Anastrozole And Exemestane Reduce The Risk Of Breast Cancer

If you are at increased risk for developing breast cancer, four medications tamoxifen , raloxifene , anastrozole , and exemestane may help reduce your risk of developing this disease. These medications act only to reduce the risk of a specific type of breast cancer called estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. This type of breast cancer accounts for about two-thirds of all breast cancers.

Tamoxifen and raloxifene are in a class of drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators . These drugs work by blocking the effects of estrogen in breast tissue by attaching to estrogen receptors in breast cells. Because SERMs bind to receptors, estrogen is blocked from binding. Estrogen is the fuel that makes most breast cancer cells grow. Blocking estrogen prevents estrogen from triggering the development of estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer.

Anastrozole and exemestane are in a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors . These drugs work by blocking the production of estrogen. Aromatase inhibitors do this by blocking the activity of an enzyme called aromatase, which is needed to make estrogen.

Estrogen Exposure And Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding for over 1 year appears to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Extended exposure to estrogen appears to increase the risk of breast cancer.

This could be due to a person starting their periods earlier or entering menopause at a later than average age. Between these times, estrogen levels are higher.

Breastfeeding, especially for over 1 year, appears to reduce the chance of developing breast cancer. This is possibly due to the drop in estrogen exposure that follows pregnancy and breastfeeding.

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Taking Part In A Trial

As part of your treatment you may be interested in, or may be asked if youd like to take part in, a clinical trial. Your specialist will talk with you about this, or you can ask if there are any trials that are appropriate for you.

Taking part in a clinical trial may give you access to a new treatment or a new way of receiving treatment that may otherwise not be available to you.

All clinical trials are regulated to make sure everyone receives at least the standard of treatment that would have been recommended if they hadnt been taking part in the trial.

Hormone Therapy For Breast Cancer

About 2 of every 3 breast cancer cases are hormone-receptor positive. This means the breast cancer cells grow by attaching to hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Hormone therapy, also called endocrine therapy, stops these hormones from attaching to cancer cells, thus stopping their spread.

There are different types of hormone therapy but most work by altering levels of estrogen and preventing estrogen from connecting to cancer cells.

Hormone therapy is most often used after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer returning but is sometimes used before surgery. Its a long-term treatment taken for at least 5 to 10 years.

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Can Cancer Form In Other Parts Of The Breast

Cancers can also form in other parts of the breast, but these types of cancer are less common. These can include:

• Angiosarcomas. This type of cancer begins in the cells that make up the lining of blood or lymph vessels. These cancers can start in breast tissue or breast skin. They are rare.
• Inflammatory breast cancer. This type of cancer is rare and different from other types of breast cancer. It is caused by obstructive cancer cells in the skins lymph vessels.
• Paget disease of the breast, also known as Paget disease of the nipple. This cancer affects the skin of the nipple and areola .
• Phyllodes tumors. These are rare, and most of these masses are not cancer. However, some are cancerous. These tumors begin in the breasts connective tissue, which is called the stroma.

Patients May Want To Think About Taking Part In A Clinical Trial

For some patients, taking part in a clinical trial may be the best treatment choice. Clinical trials are part of the cancer research process. Clinical trials are done to find out if new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard treatment.

Many of today’s standard treatments for cancer are based on earlier clinical trials. Patients who take part in a clinical trial may receive the standard treatment or be among the first to receive a new treatment.

Patients who take part in clinical trials also help improve the way cancer will be treated in the future. Even when clinical trials do not lead to effective new treatments, they often answer important questions and help move research forward.

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Patients Can Enter Clinical Trials Before During Or After Starting Their Cancer Treatment

Some clinical trials only include patients who have not yet received treatment. Other trials test treatments for patients whose cancer has not gotten better. There are also clinical trials that test new ways to stop cancer from recurring or reduce the side effects of cancer treatment.

Clinical trials are taking place in many parts of the country. Information about clinical trials supported by NCI can be found on NCIs clinical trials search webpage. Clinical trials supported by other organizations can be found on the ClinicalTrials.gov website.

The Types Of Radiotherapy

The type of radiotherapy you have will depend on the type of breast cancer and the type of surgery you have. Some women may not need to have radiotherapy at all.

Types of radiotherapy include:

• breast radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery, radiation is applied to the whole of the remaining breast tissue
• chest-wall radiotherapy after a mastectomy, radiotherapy is applied to the chest wall
• breast boost some women may be offered a boost of high-dose radiotherapy in the area where the cancer was removed however, this may affect the appearance of your breast, particularly if you have large breasts, and can sometimes have other side effects, including hardening of breast tissue
• radiotherapy to the lymph nodes where radiotherapy is aimed at the armpit and the surrounding area to kill any cancer that may be in the lymph nodes

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Systemic Therapy For Breast Cancer

Systemic therapies are treatments that use drugs to fight breast cancer. They reach cancer cells anywhere in the body, not just one area.

Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Chemotherapy treats a womans entire body for breast cancer, not just her breast. Chemotherapy drugs can be used to kill cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body. They might also be given before or after surgery to lower the chance of a reoccurrence.

There are situations when chemotherapy is recommended:

• Before surgery. Chemotherapy before breast cancer surgery is administered to shrink the tumor so it can be removed with less extensive surgery.
• After surgery. Chemotherapy used after breast cancer surgery focuses on killing any cancerous cells left behind from surgery or those that can’t be seen.
• Advanced breast cancer. Chemotherapy can be used as the main treatment for women whose breast cancer has spread outside the breast area . It is used to slow or shrink the growth of tumors.

Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

Some types of breast cancer are affected by hormones, i.e. the cancer cells need estrogen or progesterone to grow. Hormone therapies for breast cancer are recommended for women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. These therapies slow or stop the growth of hormone-receptor-positive tumors by preventing the cancer cells from getting these hormones.

Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

Cancer Treatment Premature Menopause And Infertility

About a quarter of the nearly 285,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. each year have not gone through menopause.

Some chemotherapy and hormone therapy drugs that treat breast cancer can cause permanent or temporary infertility or early menopause. Women who havenât yet gone through menopause should use birth control while having these treatments, because some chemotherapy drugs are linked with birth defects.

Chemotherapy-induced menopause happens in 10% to 50% of women younger than 40 and in 50% to 94% of women over 40. After chemotherapy, you may have months or even years of uneven ovarian function.

Radiation therapy wonât cause infertility unless it is directed at both ovaries. Depending on the type and extent of the breast cancer, your ovaries may be surgically removed or radiated to lower the amount of estrogen that your body makes. This will cause permanent infertility.

Women with breast cancer who want to start or expand a family later on should consider options to keep fertility before beginning treatment. These include:

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