Many factors need to be considered following a diagnosis of advanced breast cancer. The
stage
of the disease,
tumor
characteristics, new diagnosis versus
recurrence,
hormone receptor status,
menopausal
status, age, prior treatment(s), and overall health and lifestyle — all play a role when determining a treatment plan that is best for you. Your preference for treatment may play an important role in the decision-making process, especially in certain situations in which the survival rates are similar for different treatment options. You and your doctor will determine what is best for you.
There are several treatment options for treating advanced stages of breast cancer. The most common are listed below.
Initial disease stage at diagnosis
Most common initial treatment options
Chemotherapy to shrink the tumor before surgery
+
surgery
+
radiation
±
postsurgical chemotherapy
±
hormonal treatment
or
Chemotherapy
±
radiation
±
hormonal treatment
Chemotherapy
or
hormonal treatment
±
chemotherapy
or
Palliative care to reduce breast cancer symptoms