Early Detection of Breast Cancer - Soroptimist

What is a woman’s chance of surviving breast cancer?
Surviving breast cancer depends largely on the type and stage of the cancer when it is detected, in
addition to the treatment pursued. Screening can flag breast cancer at an earlier, more survivable
stage, and treatment determines how and whether the cancer will be eradicated. Long-term
prognosis is based on a variety of different factors including the stage, estrogen-receptor status
and biological aggressiveness of the cancer. The stage of breast cancer is determined by the size
of the tumor, whether it is in situ or invasive, how many lymph nodes are affected, and if it has
metastasized (spread outside of the breast). Therefore, it is one of the most important factors used
by physicians to determine prognosis and treatment options. Estrogen-receptor status refers to
whether or not the tumor is sensitive to estrogen. The more estrogen or progesterone receptors
present on cancer cells, the more likely that hormonal therapy will work against the particular
cancer. Finally, the biological aggressiveness of breast cancer refers to the rate of tumor growth,
based on the genetic makeup of the tumor (not the person), and the probability of metastasis.
Factors such as time of first period, race, or weight increase the likelihood of developing cancer
but do not predict how aggressive it will be.
Other medical advances have significantly increased the rate of survival for women with breast
cancer, as evidenced by the emergence of chemotherapy and the usage of digital mammography
and breast MRIs. As a result of such advances, according to the American Cancer Society, the
current five-year survival rate for women in the United States with in situ breast cancer—as long
as they receive proper treatment—is 98 percent.
What are the treatment options for breast cancer?
If a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, she and her doctor need to discuss various treatment
options. Breast cancer treatments fall into two categories: local treatment (designed to eradicate
cancer in the breast) and systemic treatment (designed to eradicate all cancerous cells in the rest
of the body). Choices in treatment options are therefore decided based on whether the cancer is
localized or metastasized.
Local Treatment: This normally involves two processes. First, surgery is performed to remove
the cancer cells from the breast. Second, radiation is employed to remove any cancer cells left
behind. In the past the only surgical option was a mastectomy, or removal of the entire breast.
Now there are a number of breast conserving options depending on the size and location of the
tumor.
Studies published in the 1980s proved that lumpectomy or partial mastectomy and radiation
therapy are equally as effective in curing early stage or small breast cancers as radical
mastectomy. Lumpectomy is the local removal of a tumor and a surrounding margin of tissue.
Partial mastectomy is like a lumpectomy except more marginal tissue is removed. Radiation
therapy is often used in conjunction with lumpectomies or partial mastectomies to shrink early
stage cancer, to prevent the cancer from coming back or to lessen the pain and other negative
symptoms of more advanced breast cancers.
Systemic Treatment: If the cancer has metastasized, systemic treatments are necessary. These
include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and neoadjuvant therapy.
Since the 1950s, chemotherapy has been helping people fight cancer. It interrupts the process in
which cells divide, resulting in cell death. Chemotherapy may be given intravenously (injected
into a vein) or by mouth. Because it targets all cells that divide, not only cancerous ones, it often
causes side effects including hair loss, mouth sores, loss of appetite, nausea, increased chance of
infection, and fatigue. Chemotherapy is given in cycles, to allow for recovery periods.
© Soroptimist International of the Americas Early Detection of Breast Cancer June 2007; Revised September 2010 Page 8 of 27