Treatment Option Overview
Key Points for This Section
| |
There are different types of treatment for men with breast cancer.
Different types of treatment are available for men with breast
cancer. Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some
are being tested in clinical trials.
Before starting treatment, patients may want to think about taking part in a
clinical trial. A treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help
improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients
with cancer. When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the
“standard” treatment, the new
treatment may become the standard treatment
Clinical trials are taking place in many parts of the country.
Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the
NCI Cancer.gov Web site. Choosing the most appropriate cancer treatment is a
decision that ideally involves the patient, family, and health care team.
Four types of standard treatment are used to treat men with
breast cancer:
Surgery
Surgery for men with breast
cancer is usually a modified radical
mastectomy (removal of the breast, some of
the lymph nodes under the arm, the lining over the chest
muscles, and sometimes part of the chest
wall muscles). Some of the lymph
nodes under
the arm may also be removed and examined under a microscope.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly in the spinal column, a body cavity such as the abdomen, or an organ, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas. The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy is a cancer treatment that removes hormones or blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. Hormones are substances produced by glands in the body and circulated in the bloodstream. The presence of some hormones can cause certain cancers to grow. If tests show that the cancer cells have places where hormones can attach (receptors), drugs, surgery, or radiation therapy are used to reduce the production of hormones or block them from working.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.
Other types of treatment are being tested in clinical
trials.
Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the
NCI Cancer.gov Web site.
Back to Top
< Previous Section | Next Section > |