Breast Cancer Treatment at CHRISTUS Health

Treatment can last from several weeks to many months, depending on your diagnosis and care plan. Surgery recovery may take weeks, while chemotherapy and radiation therapy usually runs in cycles for 3-6 months. Hormone therapy can be an ongoing treatment for 5 - 10 years to reduce recurrence risk. Your care team will let you know an expectant timeline based on your treatment plan and how the cancer reacts to the treatments.

There isn't one treatment that works best for all cases of breast cancer. Success depends on your cancer type and the stage it's found and treated. Early-stage breast cancer often responds very well to surgery combined with radiation or hormone therapy. For aggressive or advanced cancers, chemotherapy and targeted therapies can be highly effective. Your oncology team will recommend the safest, most effective plan for you.

Not all treatments cause hair loss. Chemotherapy is the most common cause, but other therapies, like hormone or targeted therapy, generally do not.

Breast cancer survival rates are very encouraging, especially when the disease is found early. When detected before it spreads beyond the breast, the five-year survival rate is about 99%. Across all stages, the five-year survival rate is around 91%, and treatments continue to improve outcomes every year

Most people with breast cancer will have surgery, either a lumpectomy or mastectomy, to remove the tumor. Surgery is often combined with other treatments such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or targeted drug therapy, depending on the cancer’s type and stage.

A mastectomy may be recommended for large tumors, cancer that has spread to lymph nodes, or when breast-conserving surgery isn't an option. It's more common in stage III cancer or in specific types of cancers. Some people also choose an elective mastectomy for preventive reasons if they have a high genetic risk of breast cancer, or recurrence of breast cancer.

Most side effects can be managed with supportive care and usually improve after treatment ends.

Side effects vary by treatment but may include:

• Chemotherapy: fatigue, hair loss, nausea, neuropathy, and increased risk of infection due to a weakened immune system during treatment
• Radiation: skin changes, fatigue, and breast tenderness
• Hormone therapy: hot flashes, joint pain, and mood changes
• Surgery: pain, swelling, and possible lymphedema

Diagnosis often begins with screening mammograms. If something looks suspicious, doctors may order additional imaging such as ultrasound or MRI, followed by a biopsy, which is the only way to confirm cancer. Lab tests on the biopsy sample help determine the cancer type and guide treatment.

Regular screening is the best way to catch breast cancer early, when it's most treatable. Guidelines recommend that women 40+ get annual or biannual mammograms, depending on their risk. High-risk individuals should start screening earlier. Learn more about the recommended screenings for breast cancer.

Common symptoms include:

• A new lump in the breast or underarm
• Changes in breast size or shape. Learn more about self-checks for breast cancer.
• Skin dimpling or redness
• Nipple changes, such as inversion or discharge
• Persistent breast pain

Not all lumps are cancer, but any change should be checked by your provider.

Doctors rarely use the word “cure” because cancer can return even after successful treatment. Instead, they use the word "remission," which means there are no signs of cancer after treatment. Many people with stage I or II breast cancer stay cancer-free for life, which feels like a cure, but ongoing monitoring is important. Advanced stages of breast cancer are harder to cure, but treatments can often control the disease, relieve symptoms, and extend your life.