Breast Cancer Therapies (Medical Oncology)

Types of Whole Body Treatments

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, a widely administered form of cancer therapy, is highly effective in halting the abnormal growth of cancerous cells in the body. It relies on the use of potent drugs to terminate cancer cells by preventing them from multiplying and spreading throughout the body.

Chemotherapy is advised when there’s a risk the cancer may spread or it has already metastasized. It's important to note that while chemotherapy can be effective in treating cancer, it can also cause side effects such as nausea, hair loss, and fatigue. Your healthcare provider can help you manage these side effects.

Receptor-dependent (hormone) Treatments

Certain forms of breast cancer are considered hormone-receptor-positive. For these cancers, hormone therapy is a highly effective treatment modality. By obstructing proteins in the hormone-receptor-positive breast cells, these drugs can prevent the cancer from multiplying further. As a result, this significantly slows the progression of cancer cells.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy, a form of therapy that utilizes the body's own immune system to fight against cancerous cells, offers hope in the fight against cancer. Checkpoint inhibitors, a form of immunotherapy, can be described as targeted therapy, and the type of immunotherapy depends on several factors, such as the stage of cancer and prior treatments received.

Radiation

Radiation therapy utilises high doses of energy particles to destroy cancerous cells in the body. In addition to other treatments, women who have breast cancer will often require radiation therapy.

External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is a common form of therapy for those with breast cancer. It involves the use of an external machine called a linear accelerator, which directs radiation on the region impacted by cancer.

Precisely targeted and powerful radiation beams are directed towards areas of the body inflicted by cancer. The radiation beams are meticulously shaped as they are released from the linear accelerator, ensuring they accurately hone on the cancerous cells in the body, providing a sense of precision and accuracy in the treatment process.