Breast cancer treatments are local or systemic.

Local treatments are used to remove, destroy or control the cancer cells in a specific area, such as the breast. They include:

• Surgery, either mastectomy or lumpectomy -- also called breast-conserving therapy. There are also different types of mastectomies and lumpectomies.
• Radiation Therapy

Systemic treatments are used to destroy or control cancer cells all over the body. They include:

• Chemotherapy uses drugs to to kill cancer cells. Side effects can include nausea, hair loss, early menopause, hot flashes, fatigue, and temporarily lowered blood counts.
• Hormone therapy , including tamoxifen in premenopausal women, and the aromatase inhibitors Arimidex, Aromasin and Femara in postmenopausal women. Hormone therapy uses drugs to prevent hormones, especially estrogen, from promoting the growth of breast cancer cells that may remain after breast cancer surgery. Side effects can include hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
• Biological Therapy such as Herceptin, works by using the body's immune system to destroy cancer cells. Herceptin targets breast cancer cells that have high levels of a protein called HER2.

Systemic therapy can be given after local treatment (adjuvant therapy) or before (neoadjuvant therapy). Adjuvant therapy is used after local treatments to kill any cancer cells that remain in the body and may be in other parts of the body.

A patient may have just one form of breast cancer treatment or a combination, depending on her needs.

Tips to Remember about Choosing Breast Cancer Treatment:

• Although there are some typical breast cancer treatment regimens, women do have choices.
• Be sure to discuss with your doctor all the risks and benefits of each treatment option and how they relate to your own lifestyle.
• Consider joining a support group to help you address the emotional issues surrounding your diagnosis and in choosing therapy.
• Ask your doctor about participating in a clinical trial.