Breast cancer

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Treatments for breast cancer can include:

  • surgery
  • radiation therapy (radiotherapy)
  • chemotherapy
  • hormonal therapy
  • targeted therapy
  • palliative care.

Most people with breast cancer have one or more of these treatments. Not all treatments are suitable for every person or every type of cancer.

Choose the option that best suits your situation

The type of surgery you have depends on your cancer.
Radiation therapy is a way of treating cancers using X-rays or other types of radiation.
Chemotherapy, also known as chemo, is a way of treating cancer using drugs.
Hormonal therapy uses drugs to treat cancers that are sensitive to hormones.
Targeted therapy are drugs that affect specific cells in some cancers.
Immunotherapy helps the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
Palliative care deals with managing symptoms and improving quality of life.

You may also be interested in

Looking after your general health is important, even when you have cancer.
There are ways to deal with some of the emotional effects of having cancer.
It is important to ask about costs before you start your treatment.