cancer. The method selected depends on tumor size and whether or not there is spread of the cancer to other sites in the body. All cancers are unique, composed of different sorts of cancer cells, which means that various forms of treatment will need to be used . Discuss with your doctor the choices available to you and be sure that you understand the reasons for recommended methods. Always be mindful that this YOUR body and if you wish, ask for a second opinion.

SURGERY: this sounds scary as a first option. Fact: it is the most successful initial treatment in the fight against tumors. Your doctor will explain the difference between lumpectomy and mastectomy and will make recommendations.

-Lumpectomy is a procedure to follow when the malignancy is small and contained within the breast; the lump and an area of healthy surrounding tissue is removed. With this method, the breast itself is conserved.

-Mastectomy involves the surgical removal of the entire breast, which may be necessary in cases where the malignancy is in an advanced stage of development. In a simple total mastectomy, all affected tissue is removed leaving intact the under breast muscle. Where possible, breast skin and nipple are saved. A modified radical mastectomy involves removal of all affected breast tissue together with some of the lymph nodes from the armpit. If cancer cells are found to be present in the nodes it would indicate a risk of the cancer spreading elsewhere in the body and would necessitate further lymph node removal.

NON SURGICAL TREATMENT

Following surgery, usually one or a combination of treatments will be given to be sure of eliminating remaining cancer cells.

-Chemotherapy will be used to treat spread of the cancer into the body. Administered in cycles, these drugs travel in the bloodstream to reach cancer cells. There may be unpleasant side effects from such drugs.

-Radiation therapy is used following surgery to eradicate malignancy remaining in the breast, the chest wall or armpits.

-Hormone therapy is an extremely effective treatment especially when combined with chemotherapy. Some cancers are dependent on female hormones; blocking them could prevent recurrence of the cancer.Tamoxifen is a hormonal drug that blocks estrogen from "feeding" the cancer.

-Monoclonal antibody therapy is given to patients to inhibit the growth of HER2 proteins, as occurs in some breast cancers. Herceptin has been shown to be effective and may be used in conjunction with chemotherapy.

ADVANCES IN RESEARCH

This is ongoing especially to refine Mammography, technically the best screening process available in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Other imaging techniques are being developed and improved, such as Digital Mammography, Ultrasound, MRI scanning and Image Guided Breast Biopsy.

Three Dimensional Mammography, due to come into use in 2010 will produce even clearer images that could better reveal early forming cancers.

Pharmaceutical research continues to develop new and more sophisticated medications to help in breast cancer treatment.

We are now all well aware of the importance of healthy eating, exercise and weight control and the woman who in 2009 learns that she has breast cancer need not feel despair. This is now a disease that is definitely more survivable than it was for her mother, mainly because we have increasingly sophisticated methods of early detection. All women stand to benefit from Mammography and it is up to all women to ensure that they do so.

Learn more about this author, Anne Penny.
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