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TREATMENT READING

Breast Cancer

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Selected text from the National Cancer Institute, with original links and dates. This Triangle reading page is not an NCI PDQ summary. Source topics may be broader than an individual diagnosis.

123 studies cited in this topic · see design and results →

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Explore 138 related disease and treatment settings → · Source-derived catalogue; clinical review pending.

124 sections · Source headings, not a ranked treatment list

Breast Cancer Treatment

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment

Join a Clinical Trial

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment

Local treatments

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / Local treatments

Surgery for Breast Cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / Local treatments

Radiation for Breast Cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment

Systemic treatments

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / Systemic treatments

Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / Systemic treatments

Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / Systemic treatments

Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / Systemic treatments

Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment

What kind of treatment will I receive?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / What kind of treatment will I receive?

Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / What kind of treatment will I receive?

Breast Cancer During Pregnancy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / What kind of treatment will I receive?

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / What kind of treatment will I receive?

Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treatment

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / What kind of treatment will I receive?

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment / What kind of treatment will I receive?

Paget Disease of the Breast

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage

Treatment of stage 0 breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ)

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage

Treatment of stages I to III breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage

Treatment of locoregional recurrent breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Treatment by Stage

Treatment of stage IV (metastatic) breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Who gets chemotherapy for breast cancer?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

When is chemotherapy for breast cancer given?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer / When is chemotherapy for breast cancer given?

Chemotherapy after surgery for breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer / When is chemotherapy for breast cancer given?

Chemotherapy before surgery for breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Chemotherapy drugs used for breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Side effects of chemotherapy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

Who gets hormone therapy?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

What types of hormone therapy are used for breast cancer?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer / What types of hormone therapy are used for breast cancer?

Therapies that block ovarian function (ovarian ablation)

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer / What types of hormone therapy are used for breast cancer?

Aromatase inhibitors to block estrogen production

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer / What types of hormone therapy are used for breast cancer?

Therapies that block estrogen’s effects

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

How is hormone therapy used to treat breast cancer?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer / How is hormone therapy used to treat breast cancer?

Adjuvant therapy for early-stage breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer / How is hormone therapy used to treat breast cancer?

Neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer / How is hormone therapy used to treat breast cancer?

Treatment of advanced, metastatic, or recurrent breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

What are the side effects of hormone therapy?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

What if side effects of hormone therapy interfere with my life?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

How effective is hormone therapy?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

Can other drugs interfere with hormone therapy?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer

Who gets immunotherapy for breast cancer?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer

When is immunotherapy for breast cancer given?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer

Immunotherapy drugs used for breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer

Side effects of immunotherapy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treatment

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treatment

Treating stage III (also called stage 3) inflammatory breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treatment

Treating metastatic or stage IV (also called stage 4) inflammatory breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treatment

Treatment for recurrent inflammatory breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treatment

Clinical trials

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Inflammatory Breast Cancer Treatment

Coping with inflammatory breast cancer treatment

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Radiation for Breast Cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Radiation for Breast Cancer

Types of radiation therapy for breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Radiation for Breast Cancer / Types of radiation therapy for breast cancer

External beam radiation therapy for breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Radiation for Breast Cancer / Types of radiation therapy for breast cancer / External beam radiation therapy for breast cancer

Whole breast radiation therapy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Radiation for Breast Cancer / Types of radiation therapy for breast cancer / External beam radiation therapy for breast cancer

Partial breast external beam radiation therapy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Radiation for Breast Cancer / Types of radiation therapy for breast cancer / External beam radiation therapy for breast cancer

Intraoperative radiation therapy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Radiation for Breast Cancer / Types of radiation therapy for breast cancer

Brachytherapy for breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Radiation for Breast Cancer / Types of radiation therapy for breast cancer / Brachytherapy for breast cancer

Intracavitary brachytherapy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Radiation for Breast Cancer / Types of radiation therapy for breast cancer / Brachytherapy for breast cancer

Interstitial brachytherapy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Radiation for Breast Cancer / Types of radiation therapy for breast cancer / Brachytherapy for breast cancer

Permanent breast seed implant (PBSI)

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Radiation for Breast Cancer / Types of radiation therapy for breast cancer / Brachytherapy for breast cancer

Intravenous radiation

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Radiation for Breast Cancer

Side effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Breast Cancer Surgery

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Cancer Surgery

Learn More

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

What is breast reconstruction?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

How do surgeons use implants to reconstruct a woman's breast?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

How do surgeons use tissue from a woman's own body to reconstruct the breast?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

How do surgeons reconstruct the nipple and areola?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

What factors can affect the timing of breast reconstruction?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

What factors can affect the choice of breast reconstruction method?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

Will health insurance pay for breast reconstruction?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

What type of follow-up care and rehabilitation is needed after breast reconstruction?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

Does breast reconstruction affect the ability to check for breast cancer?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

What is flat closure?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

What are some new developments in breast reconstruction after mastectomy?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy

Are you facing a decision about lumpectomy vs. mastectomy?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy

Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy

Questions about the effectiveness of breast cancer surgery

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy / Questions about the effectiveness of breast cancer surgery

Which type of breast cancer surgery is best for my cancer?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy / Questions about the effectiveness of breast cancer surgery

Will the type of breast cancer surgery I have affect how long I live?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy / Questions about the effectiveness of breast cancer surgery

What are the chances that my breast cancer will return in the same area?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy

Questions about recovering from breast cancer surgery

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy / Questions about recovering from breast cancer surgery

Will I have pain?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy / Questions about recovering from breast cancer surgery

How long before I can return to normal activities?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy / Questions about recovering from breast cancer surgery

What other problems might I have from breast cancer surgery?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy

Questions about treatment after breast surgery

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy / Questions about treatment after breast surgery

What other types of treatment might I need after breast cancer surgery?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy / Questions about treatment after breast surgery

Will I need more surgery?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy

Questions about body image and quality of life after breast cancer surgery

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy / Questions about body image and quality of life after breast cancer surgery

What will my breast look like after breast cancer surgery?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy / Questions about body image and quality of life after breast cancer surgery

Will my breast have feeling after breast cancer surgery?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy / Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy / Questions about body image and quality of life after breast cancer surgery

Will the type of breast surgery I choose affect my quality of life?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Choosing Between a Lumpectomy and Mastectomy

Think about what is important to you

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Lumpectomy (Breast-Conserving Surgery)

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Lumpectomy (Breast-Conserving Surgery)

Treatment before or after lumpectomy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Lumpectomy (Breast-Conserving Surgery)

Recovering from lumpectomy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Lumpectomy (Breast-Conserving Surgery)

Reconstruction after lumpectomy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Lumpectomy (Breast-Conserving Surgery)

Lumpectomy risks

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Mastectomy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Mastectomy

Types of mastectomy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Mastectomy

Single vs. double mastectomy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Mastectomy

Mastectomy with breast reconstruction surgery

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Mastectomy

Going flat after a mastectomy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Mastectomy

Recovering after a mastectomy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Mastectomy

Mastectomy risks

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

Who gets targeted therapy for breast cancer?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

When is targeted therapy for breast cancer given?

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

Targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

Targeted therapy for hormone receptor–positive breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

Targeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

Targeted therapy for BRCA-positive breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

Side effects of targeted therapy

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

Treating stages I–III triple-negative breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

Treating metastatic or stage IV (also called stage 4) triple-negative breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

Treatment for recurrent triple-negative breast cancer

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

For patients · Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment

Clinical trials

NCI patient treatment article for this disease

Preserved source evidence · Independent clinical review pending · Not medical advice