Treatment
Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy.
Caring for surgical drains after breast surgery
Drains remove excess fluid after surgery and usually stay in for one to two weeks, with care instructions from your surgical team.
5 min readChemotherapy: what to expect
Chemotherapy schedules and side effects vary widely by regimen — here's what tends to be common across most plans.
5 min readPreparing for surgery
A short checklist for the days before breast surgery, from medication questions to what to bring.
4 min readRecovering after surgery
Recovery after breast surgery varies by procedure, but pain management, gentle movement, and follow-up care are common threads.
4 min readSentinel lymph node biopsy
A sentinel lymph node biopsy removes the first few lymph nodes cancer would likely spread to, to check for cancer cells.
4 min readUnderstanding breast reconstruction
Reconstruction can rebuild breast shape using implants or your own tissue, and can happen right away or later.
5 min readUnderstanding immunotherapy
Immunotherapy helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells, and is an option for some breast cancers, particularly triple-negative.
4 min readUnderstanding lumpectomy
A lumpectomy removes the tumor and some surrounding tissue while preserving most of the breast, often followed by radiation.
4 min readUnderstanding mastectomy
A mastectomy removes all breast tissue, and may be recommended based on tumor size, location, or personal preference.
4 min readUnderstanding targeted therapy
Targeted therapy works against specific molecules involved in cancer growth, unlike chemotherapy's broader effect on fast-growing cells.
5 min readHormone therapy after breast cancer
Hormone therapy lowers estrogen's effect on the body and is often recommended for hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.
4 min readUnderstanding aromatase inhibitors
Aromatase inhibitors lower the amount of estrogen the body makes, and are typically used after menopause.
4 min readUnderstanding double mastectomy
A double (bilateral) mastectomy removes both breasts, sometimes chosen for risk reduction alongside treating a diagnosed cancer.
4 min readUnderstanding ovarian suppression
Ovarian suppression temporarily stops the ovaries from producing estrogen, sometimes combined with other hormone therapy.
3 min readUnderstanding radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses targeted energy to damage cancer cells, usually delivered over a series of short daily sessions.
4 min readUnderstanding tamoxifen
Tamoxifen blocks estrogen from attaching to receptors on cancer cells, and can be used before or after menopause.
4 min read