5 types of systemic therapies involved in advanced metastatic breast cancer treatment
Breast cancer is called metastatic when it originates in the breast and then spreads to other parts of the body: bones, lungs, liver, and sometimes the brain. Treating breast cancer involves a combination of several different therapies, which include hormonal, radiation, and others. The primary motive of metastatic breast cancer treatment is to control the growth and spread of cancerous cells, to relieve the symptoms of cancer and to maintain the best possible quality of life because this type of cancer is not completely curable. The most appropriate method of metastatic breast cancer treatment depends on the folowing: Finding the treatment that the this type cancer responds to Ability of the affected person to cope with the side effects The location and size of breast cancer cells The extent to which the cancer cells have spread and to which parts of the body Past treatments in case there has been a diagnosis at the primary stage Characteristics of cancer cells, whether hormone receptors or not Advanced metastatic breast cancer treatment involves treating with one or more of the following systemic therapies: Hormonal therapy: These are drugs that are given to women who have hormone receptors on their breast cancer cells. It can slow or stop the growth of cancer cells or make them smaller.