Breast Cancer
Expert treatment for breast cancer including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy with personalized care.
Breast Cancer
Solid Tumors
Overview
Breast cancer treatment is highly personalized based on tumor type, stage, hormone receptor status, HER2 status, and patient factors. Modern treatment combines surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, and radiation for optimal outcomes.
When to Consult
Upon detection of breast lump, abnormal mammogram, nipple changes, breast pain, or confirmed breast cancer diagnosis.
What to Bring
Mammogram reports, breast biopsy results, ultrasound reports, MRI reports, hormone receptor test results (ER/PR), HER2 status, Ki-67, and genetic testing if available.
Risk Factors
Causes
Treatment Options
Breast-Conserving Surgery (Lumpectomy)
Removal of the tumor and a small margin of surrounding tissue, preserving the breast. Usually followed by radiation therapy. Appropriate for early-stage cancers.
Mastectomy
Removal of the entire breast. Options include simple, modified radical, skin-sparing, or nipple-sparing mastectomy. May include sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection.
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy before surgery to shrink tumors, allowing breast-conserving surgery. Common regimens include AC-T (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, then paclitaxel) or TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide).
Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells and reduce recurrence risk. Based on tumor characteristics, stage, and patient factors.
Hormone Therapy
Tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole, letrozole, exemestane) for hormone receptor-positive cancers. Blocks estrogen effects or reduces estrogen production. Typically taken for 5-10 years.
HER2-Targeted Therapy
Trastuzumab (Herceptin), pertuzumab, or T-DM1 for HER2-positive breast cancer. May be combined with chemotherapy. Targets HER2 protein on cancer cells.
CDK4/6 Inhibitors
Palbociclib, ribociclib, or abemaciclib combined with hormone therapy for advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. Blocks cell cycle progression.
PARP Inhibitors
Olaparib or talazoparib for BRCA-mutated breast cancer. Targets DNA repair pathways in cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy
External beam radiation after lumpectomy or for high-risk mastectomy cases. Whole breast or partial breast irradiation. May include boost to tumor bed.
Immunotherapy
Pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors help immune system attack cancer cells.