A malignant tumor that develops in the cells of the breast is termed as breast cancer. There are different kinds of breast cancer, and the type of cancer depends on which cells in the breast turn cancerous. It can begin in different parts of the breast and spread outside the breast through blood vessels and lymph vessels. Mostly it begins in the ducts or lobules.

Breast cancer stages range from 0-4. The treatments for breast cancer differ for every patient and depend on the stage and extent of the disease. A patient’s age, general health conditions, and the spread of cancer plays an important role while choosing a treatment.

1. Stage 0 (DCIS)

If the cancer cells are confined to the milk ducts, it is called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). It can become invasive and spread beyond the ducts.

Treatments for breast cancer in this stage include:

• Surgery

One can get a lumpectomy where only cancer cells are removed, sparing the rest of the breast. If DCIS is found throughout the breast, a mastectomy is performed where the breast is removed. After a mastectomy, one can choose to have breast reconstruction surgery.

• Radiation therapy

This therapy is recommended after lumpectomy for stage 0 breast cancers. High energy X-rays are used to destroy cancer cells and prevent them from spreading.

• Hormone treatment

Estrogen hormone, which is found naturally in the body, can impact some types of breast cancer. If the estrogen receptor is positive (ER+) or progesterone receptor is positive (PR+), hormone treatment is advised in addition to surgery.

2. Stages 1, 2, and 3

In stage 1, the cancerous cells invade the surrounding breast tissue. In stage 2, the tumor is smaller than 2 cms and spreads to between one and three nearby lymph nodes. In the third stage, cancer spreads to four to nine axillary lymph nodes or has enlarged the internal mammary lymph nodes.

Breast cancer treatments available in these three stages are:

• Surgery

Lumpectomy and mastectomy are both options for these stages depending on the location of the tumor, its size, family history, and the patient’s preference.

• Radiation therapy

It is a standard treatment for these stages of cancer. This therapy is not advisable for patients over 70 years.

• Hormone therapy

Preventing the growth of estrogen cells and reducing the risk of cancer recurring is how this therapy works.

• Chemotherapy

A systematic therapy to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Powerful drugs are delivered into a vein over a period of time.

3. Stage 4

In this stage, cancer has spread to a distant part of the body. Multiple therapies might be involved to stop the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy can be used as treatments for breast cancer depending on the advancement of cancer.

Another treatment for breast cancer is targeted therapy treatment where the proteins are targeted as they allow cancer cells to grow. Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, steroids are also used to treat advanced stages of breast cancer.