Early-stage Breast Cancer

" This year approximately 200000. Women will face the shocking moment when they sit in their doctor's office. And learn they have breast cancer. Luckily for many the cancerous -- an early stage. Early stage cancer. Is a disease that by definition is localized to the breast. Plus minus the -- Larry love notes. And this stage of their cancer will depend on the size of the tumor and the presence or absence of lymph node involvement. So that -- an early stage breast cancer can be at stage zero cancer non invasive disease. Or it could be a stage one cancer that's less than two centimeters. Or it could be a stage two cancer that has little -- involved. Once diagnosed it is important to speak with your doctor to learn as much as you can about your disease. The goal should be to have an understanding. Of the stage of disease. That type of cancer president. For example you wanna know the cancer is invasive or insight to noninvasive he won enough that cancer is a high grade -- meaning rapidly growing. Or a low grade -- and also the other studies that need to be done and the other positions that need to be involved in her care. Discovering all you can about your cancer even fits on an early stage. Often requires more testing since there is a small chance the cancer has spread. At the very minimum most women will have. Thorough physical exam by a clinician asking for a variety of symptoms related. The breast cancer. A chest X ray and routine liver function studies are often contain. In addition to that one's a cancer is staged too often times the bones Kenneth obtained. Once information is gathered treatment can begin. In early stage breast cancer this always involve surgery. But there are different surgical options to consider."

" One is where -- attempt to save the breasts so breast conservation. They usually involves a lumpectomy. Removing them the cancer and getting clear margin of normal tissue around it and the other option other than saving the breast would be to do a mastectomy. Which -- general also takes the lymph nodes and that's either done -- without reconstruction."

" Also very important is the woman's choice. The woman's wishes with regards to surgery some women are perfectly good candidates for breast conservation from a medical standpoint. But they really would rather. -- a mastectomy they feel more comfortable having the breasts removed. Depending on the type and stage breast cancer there are many other treatments need. These treatments are aimed at killing any leftover cancer cells in the body."

" Back could be radiation therapy which is probably six or seven weeks of abusing radiation which is very targeted treatment to kill residual cancer cells. There's a possibility of adjuvant chemotherapy which is drug treatment. Try to improve her overall prognosis. And there's got to be a possibility of adjuvant hormone therapy."

" You know hormone treatment in early stage disease. Again there are options to consider."

" The gold standard up to this time has been drug called Tamoxifen. To marxism anti estrogen that work to stop the cancer cells from all applying are dividing and that's proven to be extraordinarily effective the treatment. Others now another option and that's. One of the drugs called an anti viral imitates agent. The one drug it's approved this is a drug called an Astros all lowering the decks."

" Speaking with your doctor is crucial to understanding the disease and its treatment. But initially. A woman may need help digesting what's being sent in the first -- visits with her possessions the woman should prepare herself by. Gathering people to go with her for these efforts these are difficult does that that shouldn't be done alone there has the support system that can be tapped into the other thing that a woman should do is prepared by reviewing materials regarding breast cancer prior to her visit. Having an open dialogue with your doctor. Knowing your options and keeping well informed. Will prove to be valuable tools for any patient fighting breast cancer. "

" I think getting the right information beginning is is crucial so there are no big surprises. I -- I like to spell out exactly what's going to be happening so that. Somewhere few months into this there's not suddenly big surprise like oh I forgot to tell you need. Seven weeks of radiation therapy and that's a that's a disastrous type surprised."

" being a woman gather the information that she needs at the very beginning will prepare her very well for what is to come. The more prepared the woman is. Better she will be able to deal with the difficult decisions that are -- her. And the better she will be able to handle the side effect of the treatments that are in store for her."