Advances in Breast Cancer Treatment
ROCHESTER, MINN. -- The March issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource details advances in the treatment of breast cancer.
Surviving breast cancer is more likely than ever. In fact, the chance of surviving five or more years after a diagnosis of localized breast cancer is more than 95 percent. One of the most high-profile treatment techniques is sentinel node biopsy. This approach is an attempt to determine if only one or a few lymph nodes near the site of the cancer need to be removed, thereby reducing the need for more extensive surgery. Removal of all of the lymph nodes is an extensive surgery that can result in swelling and numbness of the arm as well as skin infections.
Preoperative chemotherapy is another treatment that aims to reduce the extent of cancer surgery. Doctors try to shrink the tumor with chemotherapy so that the patient can have a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy. Avoiding mastectomy is an important goal in itself. However, research has found no differences in the chances of cancer recurrence, or in survival rates, whether chemotherapy was given before or after surgery.
This is an important and exciting time in the field of breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment. Physicians and researchers are working every day to bring hope to women facing breast cancer.
Shelly Plutowski507-284-5005 (days)507-284-2511 (evenings)e-mail: [email protected]
Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-351-8963, extension 9PK1.
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