Surgery or medication for breast cancer treatment: which is better?

Phyathai Phaholyothin

3 Min

We 07/02/2024

AI Translated

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Surgery or medication for breast cancer treatment: which is better?

When diagnosed with breast cancer, it is natural to feel quite anxious. Many people try to find information in every possible way, which sometimes includes both reliable and unreliable information from various sources, including information passed on from close people or relatives.

 

 

How to know if the information received is reliable or not?

Before considering whether the information received is reliable, you must check who the source of the information is, whether they truly have knowledge in that field, and if there is sufficient credible medical evidence. If it is just someone saying that a certain method is good but you cannot identify that person, medical professionals do not recommend believing it immediately. At least, you should bring that information to consult with the doctor during your examination.

 

 

There is no single best treatment for cancer

In breast cancer, there are several treatment methods used together, and there is no treatment that is considered the best. Effective cancer treatment requires a combination of methods. The following methods have all been proven through comparative studies with two groups, including a control group and an experimental group, showing real benefits:

  • Surgery
  • Chemotherapy
  • Oral hormone therapy
  • HER2/neu targeted therapy
  • Radiation therapy

 

 

Which treatment should be done first?

Before starting treatment, the stage of the disease must be assessed through physical examination and X-ray results to estimate the clinical stage of breast cancer. For patients estimated to be in stage one or two, medically called “early-stage cancer” or “Early Breast Cancer,” surgery must be performed first to examine the entire tissue sample to determine the actual size of the cancer and how much it has spread to the lymph nodes. This will reveal the true pathological stage before considering further treatment options. There are two types of surgery:

  1. Complete removal of the breast
  2. Breast-conserving surgery

(If there are no contraindications) Both methods are standard treatments with no difference in treatment outcomes.

 

 

Assessment of patients suspected to have stage three cancer, treatment is divided into

  • Stage three cancer patients without spread to the skin or chest wall can undergo surgery immediately.
  • Stage three breast cancer patients with spread to the skin or chest wall or multiple connected lymph nodes in the armpit must receive chemotherapy before surgery.

 

 

Additionally, radiation therapy and other medications should be given to reduce the risk of local recurrence and increase survival rates after surgery.

 

 

Patients with stage four cancer

Stage four breast cancer means the cancer has spread to other organs such as the lungs or bones. The main treatment for stage four breast cancer is medication, which may include oral hormone therapy, HER2 targeted therapy, or chemotherapy if necessary. Surgery to remove the breast tumor is considered only in certain patients because the severity of breast cancer varies among individuals. Therefore, treatment for each patient may differ, and different medications may be used. A drug effective for one patient may not work for another and may cause drug resistance if used inappropriately, making treatment more difficult.

 

 

Did you know!!!

  1. For early-stage breast cancer (stage one or two), treatment must start with surgery, followed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy, HER2 targeted therapy, or hormone therapy if necessary.
  2. For stage three breast cancer that is operable, surgery is done first, followed by chemotherapy, other medications, or radiation therapy if needed. For locally advanced stage three breast cancer, chemotherapy is given before surgery, followed by other necessary medications and radiation therapy.
  3. For stage four breast cancer, the main treatment is medication. Surgery is performed only in selected suitable patients.

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