Discover the various treatment options for early or locally advanced breast cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.
Learn more about:
- Overview
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy (only for ER+ and/or PR+ cancers)
- Targeted therapy (only for HER2+ cancers)
- Immunotherapy
- Treatment for advanced breast cancer
Overview
Treatment for early or locally advanced breast cancer varies from person to person. The treatment that is best for you will depend on your test results, where the cancer is in the breast, the stage and grade of the cancer, and whether the cancer is hormone receptor and/or HER2 positive or triple negative. Your doctor will also consider your age and general health, and your preferences.
Treatment for early and locally advanced breast cancer usually includes surgery. Before surgery, however, you may have other types of treatment to shrink the cancer. This is called neoadjuvant treatment.
→ READ MORE: Making treatment decisions about breast cancer
Podcast: Making Treatment Decisions
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
Dr Diana Adams, Medical Oncologist, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, NSW; Prof Bruce Mann, Specialist Breast Surgeon and Director, Breast Cancer Services, The Royal Melbourne and The Royal Women’s Hospitals, VIC; Dr Shagun Aggarwal, Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Prince of Wales, Sydney Children’s and Royal Hospital for Women, NSW; Andrea Concannon, consumer; Jenny Gilchrist, Nurse Practitioner Breast Oncology, Macquarie University Hospital, NSW; Monica Graham, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Natasha Keir, Nurse Practitioner Breast Oncology, GenesisCare, QLD; Dr Bronwyn Kennedy, Breast Physician, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW; Lisa Montgomery, consumer; A/Prof Sanjay Warrier, Specialist Breast Surgeon, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Dr Janice Yeh, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC.
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