Important facts about early breast cancer
- Early breast cancer can be treated successfully, and most women diagnosed and treated for early breast cancer do not die from the disease.
- Early breast cancer is cancer that is contained in the breast, and may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes in the breast or armpit area. It is possible that some cancer cells may have spread outside the breast and armpit area, but cannot be detected.
Treatment for early breast cancer
- The aim of treatment for early breast cancer is to remove the cancer from the breast and armpit area, and to destroy any cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body, but cannot be detected.
- Every woman’s situation and breast cancer is different. Treatment that is best for one woman may not be suitable for another woman.
- Deciding on the most appropriate treatment/s for your situation means weighing up, with your doctors, the possible benefits and side effects of each treatment. Give yourself a week or two to decide about your treatment if you need it.
- Treatment for early breast cancer usually involves either:
breast conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy, or mastectomy (sometimes followed by radiotherapy).
