Treatment by Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Important information about COVID-19.
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.
The sections below describe the recommended treatments for different breast cancer diagnoses:
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
- Early and locally advanced breast cancer
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Metastatic breast cancer
We also have information on:
- Triple negative breast cancer
- Paget disease of the breast (Paget disease of the nipple)
- Male breast cancer
- Breast cancer treatment during pregnancy
- Unique issues for young women with breast cancer
- Genetic testing after a breast cancer diagnosis
Learn about factors that affect treatment options.
Learn about financial assistance.
Komen Financial Assistance Program |
Susan G. Komen® created the Komen Financial Assistance Program to help those struggling with the costs of breast cancer treatment by providing financial assistance to eligible individuals. Funding is available for eligible individuals undergoing breast cancer treatment at any stage or living with metastatic breast cancer (stage 4). To learn more about this program and other helpful resources, call the Komen Breast Care Helpline at 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636) or email helpline@komen.org. Se habla español. |
Your breast cancer treatment plan
Your breast cancer treatment plan is based on both medical and personal choices. Each treatment option has risks and benefits to consider along with your own values and lifestyle.
Your treatment is based on:
- The biology of the tumor, including biomarkers (such as hormone receptor status and HER2 status)
- Tumor profiling test results, for some estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers
- The stage of the breast cancer
- Your overall health, age, menopausal status and other medical issues
- Your personal preferences
Because of the differences between tumors and between people, your treatment plan may differ from someone else’s, even though you both have breast cancer. Treatment is personalized to give the most effective treatment for each person’s breast cancer. This is called personalized medicine.
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.
Local therapy and systemic therapy
Breast cancer treatment can be divided into local therapy and systemic therapy.
Local therapy
Local therapy removes the cancer from a limited (local) area, such as the breast, chest wall and lymph nodes in the underarm area. It also helps make sure the cancer doesn’t come back in that area.
Local therapy includes surgery, with or without radiation therapy to the breast and nearby lymph nodes.
Systemic therapy (neoadjuvant therapy and adjuvant therapy)
Systemic therapy aims to get rid of cancer cells that may have spread from the breast to other parts of the body. These cells are too small to see on scans or to measure with lab tests.
Systemic therapy uses drug therapies that travel throughout the body to get rid of cancer cells. It’s used in addition to (an adjunct to) breast surgery. So, these treatments are often called adjuvant therapy when given after surgery, and neoadjuvant therapy when given before surgery.
Learn about drug therapies used to treat breast cancer.
Learn about factors that affect treatment options.
Susan G. Komen®‘s Patient Navigator Program |
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Komen Patient Navigators can help guide you through the health care system. They can help to remove barriers to high-quality breast care. For example, they can help you with insurance, local resources, communication with health care providers and more. Call the Komen Breast Care Helpline at 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636) or email helpline@komen.org to learn more about our Patient Navigator program, including eligibility. Se habla español. |
How does your age affect your treatment plan?
No matter your age, your treatment plan depends on many factors, such as tumor stage, tumor grade, hormone receptor status and HER2 status.
Your overall health and other health conditions also play a role. For example, if you have heart disease, some medications used to treat breast cancer can do more harm than good.
All these things, as well as your age, are considered when planning your treatment.
Early menopause and fertility
Young women may have special concerns about early menopause and loss of fertility due to breast cancer treatment.
Learn about issues for young women with breast cancer.
Treatment guidelines
Although the exact treatment for breast cancer varies from person to person, evidence-based guidelines help ensure high-quality care. These guidelines are based on the latest research and agreement among experts.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) are respected organizations that regularly review and update their guidelines.
In addition, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has treatment overviews.
Talk with your health care team about which treatment guidelines they use.
After you get a recommended treatment plan from your health care team, study your treatment options. Together with your health care team, make thoughtful, informed decisions that are best for you. Each treatment option has risks and benefits to consider along with your own values and lifestyle.
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The National Academy of Sciences released the report, Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care: Charting a New Course for a System in Crisis. Susan G. Komen® was one of 13 organizations that sponsored this study. The report identified key ways to improve quality of care:
Read the full report. |
Susan G. Komen® Support Resources |
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Updated 07/02/23
