Breast cancer treatment

Many treatment options exist for advance / metastatic breast cancer (ABC/MBC). Not all tumors will respond to the same therapies. Because everyone responds differently to medication, it is not uncommon for patients to try multiple therapy options. ^12,3,4 The goal of any treatment for MBC is to slow the growth or spread of cancer and help patients live longer.

Metastatic breast cancer treatment

Systemic breast cancer treatment ^10,11,12

Most women with advanced breast cancer receive "systemic" treatment. That means that the treatment acts on cancer cells in just about the entire body, not just in the breasts.

Examples of systemic treatments are:

• Hormone therapy
• Chemotherapy

Local breast cancer treatment ¹¹

Local treatment targets the new sites where breast cancer has appeared, or can be used to prevent or treat symptoms.

Examples of local treatments are:

• Surgery
• Radiotherapy

Types of breast cancer treatments

Hormone therapy for breast cancer

• Effect of hormone therapy

Stops cancer growth that is caused by hormones.¹² 

• Why and when is hormone therapy applied?

May be used for patients with hormone receptor–positive (HR+) breast cancer.^13,15  

• How does the treatment proceed?

Orally (pill) or via injections, most often after surgery.

Targeted therapy

• Effect of targeted therapy

Finds and attacks specific types of cancer cells to block growth or slow activity, while causing less harm to normal cells.¹²

• Why and when is targeted therapy applied?

In breast cancer different targets can be present depending on the tumor of the patients. Potential targets within breast cancer can be: CDK /6, mTOR proteins, PARP (for patients with BRCA1/2 mutations), PIK3CA,. ^{12,14,15,16,17}

• How does the treatment proceed?

Subcutaneous shot (under the skin), intravenously into a vein (IV), or by mouth (pill).

Chemotherapy for breast cancer

• Effect of chemotherapy

Damages the cancer cell’s DNA in order to kill the cancer cells and/or prevent them from growing and dividing.¹²

• Why and when is chemotherapy applied?

Used for many types of metastatic breast cancer, including HR+/HR- and HER2+/HER2- and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) ¹²

• How does the treatment proceed?

May be given as an infusion into a vein (IV) or as an oral therapy.

Immunotherapy for breast cancer

• Effect of immunotherapy

Also called biologic therapy or biotherapy; uses natural substances made by the body or in a laboratory to fight cancer cells and restore immune system function.¹²

• Why and when is immunotherapy applied?

Used to prevent the immune system from attacking normal cells and to help restore normal immune response against breast cancer cells.

• How does the treatment proceed?

Intravenously into a vein (IV) or by injection, either under the skin (subcutaneous) or into a muscle (intramuscular)

Radiotherapy for breast cancer

• Effect of radiotherapy

Uses high-energy x-rays and other types of radiation to kill cancer cells.

• Why and when is radiotherapy applied?

Used to shrink or slow tumor growth; or to treat the symptoms of cancer, such as pain.¹²

• How does the treatment proceed?

Via special machines or devices that deliver radiation from outside your body to the breast near the site of your tumor, or sometimes given internally (brachytherapy).

Breast cancer surgery

• Effect of breast cancer surgery

Attempts to remove cancer from the body.

• Why and when is breast cancer surgery applied?

Used to identify where cancer has spread, or to relieve symptoms. Depending on severity and location of the cancer, the types of surgery range from partial removal of tissue in or around the breast, to complete removal of the breast and surrounding lymph nodes or muscle tissue.¹³ There are also occasions when surgery is used to remove metastases (where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body) that might be producing pain/discomfort.

• How does the treatment proceed?

Operation of partial removal of the breast (sometimes involving breast reconstruction after the procedure), full removal of breast, or lymph node biopsy.

What treatment is most suited?

Biomarker testing may help the healthcare team gather as much information as possible about the specific type of breast cancer.¹³ A patient’s clinical background, and stage and location of cancer, will help determine which treatment option and duration is most appropriate.

Working together with the healthcare team can determine a personalized plan for each patient – and determine what tests and treatments will be the most helpful. Through open communication between the healthcare team and the patient, the patient can feel more engaged in their treatment plan.¹³