The short answer
Breast cancer treatment usually combines approaches. Surgery removes the tumor, radiation targets remaining cancer cells, and chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted therapy treat the whole body. The plan depends on the type, stage, and markers of the cancer.
Most people receive a combination of treatments chosen for their specific cancer.
Surgery may remove the tumor (lumpectomy) or the whole breast (mastectomy).
Radiation therapy targets cancer cells left after surgery, often after a lumpectomy.
Hormone therapy treats hormone-receptor-positive cancers; targeted therapy treats HER2-positive cancers.
Choose how you want to understand this
The full explanation.
The simple version
Breast cancer treatment usually combines more than one approach. Some treatments act on the breast itself, while others treat the whole body to lower the chance the cancer returns. The right combination depends on the cancer's type, stage, and markers.
Local treatments
These treat the cancer in the breast and nearby area:
- Surgery — a lumpectomy removes the tumor and saves the breast; a mastectomy removes the whole breast
- Radiation therapy — high-energy rays that kill cancer cells left after surgery, often used after a lumpectomy
Whole-body treatments
These treat cancer cells throughout the body:
- Chemotherapy — drugs that kill cancer cells, used before or after surgery depending on the cancer
- Hormone therapy — for hormone-receptor-positive cancers, often taken for years
- Targeted therapy — drugs that attack features like HER2
A plan built for you
Your team chooses treatments based on the cancer's type, stage, and markers, along with your health and preferences. Ask about the goals of each treatment, the likely side effects, and whether a clinical trial is an option for you.
The best treatment plan is the one matched to your cancer's type, stage, and markers.
Words to know
Tap any term to see what it means.
Common questions
▸What are the main treatments?
The main treatments are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy. Most people receive a combination chosen for their cancer's type, stage, and markers.
▸What surgery options are there?
Surgery may be a lumpectomy, which removes the tumor and a margin of tissue, or a mastectomy, which removes the whole breast. Nearby lymph nodes may also be checked or removed.
▸When is radiation used?
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells left after surgery. It is often given after a lumpectomy and sometimes after a mastectomy, depending on the situation.
▸What is hormone therapy?
Hormone therapy is used for hormone-receptor-positive cancers. It blocks the hormones that fuel these cancers and is often taken for several years to lower the chance the cancer comes back.
▸What is targeted therapy?
Targeted therapy uses drugs that attack specific features of cancer cells, such as HER2. It is used for cancers that have those targets, often along with chemotherapy.
Questions to ask your doctor
Being prepared helps you get the most out of your appointments. Save or print these questions.
Tap a question to save it to your list (kept on this device).
Test your knowledge
0 of 4 answered
This quiz checks understanding of educational content only. It is not medical advice. Open this quiz on its own page.