The most important part of treatment and therapy for breast cancer starts actually with investigation and screening. Mammography and Biopsy provide a first step towards actual treatment- providing both an insight into both history and prevalence of the disease in the body of the patient.

Through continuing research new methods give women more treatment options and hope for survival than ever before. The treatment options for each woman depend on the size and location of the tumor in her breast, the results of lab tests (including hormone receptor tests), and the stage of the disease. To develop a treatment plan to fit each patient's needs, the doctor also considers a woman's age and menopausal status, her general health, and the size of her breasts.

Many women want to learn all they can about their disease and their treatment choices so that they can take an active part in decisions about their medical care. They are likely to have many questions and concerns about their treatment options.

The doctor is the best person to answer questions about treatment for a particular patient; what her treatment choices are, how successful her treatment is expected to be, and how much it is likely to cost. Most patients also want to know how they will look after treatment and whether they will have to change their normal activities. Also, the patient may want to talk with her doctor about taking part in a clinical trial, a research study involving people, of new treatment methods.

Planning Treatment

Before starting treatment, the patient might want a second opinion about the diagnosis and the treatment plan. Studies show that a brief delay between biopsy and treatment does not make breast cancer treatment less effective. There are a number of ways to find a doctor for a second opinion.

• The patient's doctor may refer her to one or more specialists. Specialists who treat breast cancer include surgeons, medical oncologists, plastic surgeons, and radiation oncologists. Sometimes these doctors work together at cancer centers or special centers for breast diseases.
• The Cancer Information Service, at Al Mosanada or any other of the government health service hospitals who can tell callers about treatment facilities, including cancer centers or supported programs, in their area.
• Patients can get the names of specialists from their local medical society, public health hospitals or the private hospital system in the U A E

Treatment option overview

How breast cancer is treated Patient management following initial suspicion of breast cancer generally includes confirmation of the diagnosis, evaluation of the stage of the disease, and selection of therapy. Diagnosis may be made by use of established prognostic markers. At the time the tumor tissue is surgically removed, ER and PR status should be determined. There are treatments for all patients with breast cancer. Four types of treatment are used- and often synergize with each other. Standard treatment may be considered because of its effectiveness in patients in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial may be considered. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired.

• Surgery Or Removal of the tumor through surgery under general anesthesia.
• Radiation therapy Using high-dose x-rays to kill cancerous or malignant cells. Chemotherapy That involves using drugs to kill cancer cells.
• Hormone therapy A course of drugs that change the way hormones work or taking out organs that make hormones, such as the ovaries.
• Biological therapy That uses the body's own immune system to fight cancer, Bone marrow transplantation, and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation are being tested in clinical trials.