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Breast Cancer Treatment

UHS provides those diagnosed with breast cancer access to comprehensive care, state-of-the-art technology and a multispecialty team to coordinate the best treatment options. Some brief information is provided below about several treatment options available at UHS. This information may be helpful when you speak with your healthcare provider.

The treatment options available to you will depend on a number of factors including:

  • The type of tumor
  • The extent of the disease at the time of diagnosis
  • Your age
  • Your medical history

Your personal feelings about treatment, your self-image, your family history and your lifestyle will also be important considerations in your healthcare provider’s assessment and recommendations. You and your physician should discuss these treatment methods and how they apply to your situation. Understanding all your options from the beginning of your diagnosis allows you to have all of the information you need to make an informed and rational decision about your care.

Some Treatment Options


During a lumpectomy, both the tumor and a wedge of normal tissue surrounding the cancer are removed. A margin of normal tissue must be cut out to ensure the tumor has been completely removed. Lumpectomy is followed by approximately 6 weeks of radiation therapy.


Mastectomy is the surgical removal of the breast; it refers to a number of different procedures, including modified radical mastectomy, total (or simple) mastectomy, nipple-sparing mastectomy and radical mastectomy. Based on the size and location of the mass in your breast, your surgeon will recommend the type of surgery that offers you the best chance of successful treatment.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Sentinel node biopsy is a surgical procedure used to determine if cancer has spread beyond a primary tumor into your lymphatic system. Sentinel node biopsy involves injecting a tracer material that helps locate the sentinel nodes during surgery. The sentinel nodes are removed and analyzed by a pathologist.

Axillary Node Dissection

Axillary node dissection involves removing at least 6 of the lymph nodes under the arm. These nodes are then sent to a pathologist to be checked for cancer.

Radiation Therapy

Radiationtherapy (also called radiotherapy) uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It affects cells only in the part of the body that is treated. Radiation therapy may be used after surgery to destroy breast cancer cells that remain in the area.


Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs that treat breast cancer are usually given through a vein (intravenous) or as a pill. Most women receive a combination of drugs. The side effects of chemotherapy depend mainly on which drugs are given and how much. Chemotherapy kills fast-growing cancer cells, but the drugs can also harm normal cells that divide rapidly.

Hormone Therapy


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