Saint Mary's
Comprehensive
Breast Center
616-685-6756
Treatment for Breast Cancer
Surgery is the most common treatment for breast cancer. There are several types of surgeries:
Lumpectomy and Segmental Mastectomy (SM)
Surgery to remove the cancer but not the breast. These procedures are outpatient and the result is small scars. The goal is to preserve your breast. These procedures are combined with radiation.
Mastectomy
Mastectomy is an operation in which the breast is removed. Skin sparing and nipple sparing are two types of mastectomy procedures that combine breast tissue removal with a reconstruction of the breast at the same time. The goal is to remove tissue and maximize the cosmetic outcome in one procedure. Other types of mastectomies include prophylactic (surgery to remove one or both breasts) or modified radical (the entire breast or both breasts are removed including the skin, areola and nipple, as well as most of the lymph nodes in the armpit area).
Lymph Node Evaluation Surgery
This option could include needle biopsy of nodes,a sentinel node biopsy or an axillary lymph node dissection.
Radiation Therapy
Also called radiotherapy, uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. Both standard whole breast/accelerated course radiation or partial breast radiation are available. Two progressive forms of partial breast radiation (vs. whole breast radiation) include:
Mammosite
Mammosite is an advanced radiation therapy used in breast cancer treatment that targets cancer cells limiting the exposure of healthy tissue to radiation. This form of treatment is typically only 5 days in duration as opposed to the usual 5-7 weeks. With Mammosite there is little to no scarring, burning or discoloration of the surrounding skin and less fatigue than with traditional radiation therapies.
Contura
Contura® is a multi-lumen balloon breast brachytherapy device, used after a lumpectomy for early-stage breast cancer. Using a Contura allows your doctor to treat your breast cancer right at the source, with radiation from inside your breast. You will have two treatments a day for only five days, and the treatment will be customized for your body. Contura has special features that will spare your skin and internal organs from radiation exposure.
Systematic Therapy - Treating the Whole Body
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy utilizes anti-cancer drugs to kill the cancer cells.
Hormonal Therapy
Hormonal therapy keeps cancer cells from getting the hormones they need for growth.
Biological Therapy
Also called immunotherapy, biological therapy uses and enhances the body's immune system to fight cancer.
