It's normal to feel scared and anxious when you find out you have breast cancer. Especially when you hear a word like "Stage II," the questions that come to mind are many. "What do I do now?" and "Can this be cured?" are probably on your mind. But don't worry. Today, we'll talk about this, that is, stage II breast cancer and the successful treatments for it, in a very simple and friendly way.
First of all, what is this second stage (Stage II)?
Simply put, stage II breast cancer is a condition where the cancer is still confined to the breast or nearby lymph nodes. This means that the cancer has not spread to distant organs in the body. This is very important because cancer is very treatable at this stage.
The doctors who treat you will often use a combination of treatments rather than a single treatment method. This will give you the best results. Now let's see what those treatments are.
| Treatment Method | Simple Explanation |
|---|---|
| Surgery | Removal of the cancerous lump or the entire breast. This is the most commonly used primary treatment. |
| Radiation Therapy | It is used to destroy cancer cells suspected to remain after surgery. |
| Chemotherapy | Powerful drugs given to destroy any cancer cells that may have spread throughout the body. |
| Hormone Therapy | A specific treatment for certain types of cancer that require hormones to grow. |
| Targeted Therapy | A modern treatment that targets specific proteins in cancer cells and stops their growth. |
Let's talk about treatment in detail.
Now let's look at each of these treatment methods in a little more detail.
Surgery: The Basic Steps
Surgery is the standard treatment for stage II breast cancer. There are two main methods:
- Lumpectomy: This involves removing only the cancerous lump and a small amount of tissue around it. This is also called breast conserving surgery . This is usually only done if the cancerous lump is small.
- Mastectomy: If the cancerous lump is large, the doctor may decide to remove the entire breast. This surgery is called a `Mastectomy`.
Regardless of which of these two surgeries is performed, the surgeon will often also remove and examine several lymph nodes in the armpit area to see if the cancer has spread there. After a mastectomy, you can also talk to your doctor about breast reconstruction surgery if you want to.
Radiation Therapy: To destroy remaining cells
Radiation therapy is usually given after a lumpectomy. Remember, surgery may leave behind a few small, invisible cancer cells. This treatment is given to completely destroy any remaining cells and prevent the cancer from coming back. Sometimes, women who have had a mastectomy are also given radiation therapy, especially if the tumor is large or if there are cancer cells in the breasts.
Chemotherapy: A powerful treatment that works throughout the body
This is a treatment that many people are familiar with, but a little scary. `Chemotherapy` is a powerful drug treatment that is given to destroy any cancer cells that may remain somewhere in the body after surgery.
In some cases, chemotherapy is given before surgery. The purpose is to shrink a large cancerous tumor, making it smaller and easier to remove with a simple surgery such as a lumpectomy.
This treatment can be given in several ways. It may be given as a pill or a liquid. But most often it is given intravenously. This treatment is not given all at once. It is given in cycles , giving the body a break.
Hormone Therapy: For hormone-dependent cancers
This is a very specific treatment. There are some types of breast cancer that thrive on hormones like estrogen in our bodies. These are called hormone receptor-positive cancers.
If your cancer is one of these types, your doctor may recommend hormone therapy. These drugs work by blocking the hormones that cancer cells need.
- The drug Tamoxifen is given to women of any age.
- Drugs such as Anastrozole (Arimidex), Exemestane (Aromasin), and Letrozole (Femara) are used for postmenopausal women.
- In addition to this, there are other types of medicines.
For premenopausal women, surgery to remove the ovaries may be considered to stop the production of hormones that help the cancer grow. Or, medications such as Goserelin (Zoladex) can temporarily stop the ovaries from producing hormones.
Biological/Targeted Therapy: A new and advanced method
This is a very successful treatment that has come with the advancement of modern medicine. About 25% of women with breast cancer have too much of a protein called HER2 on the surface of their cancer cells. This protein causes the cancer to grow and spread rapidly.
Targeted therapies target the HER2 protein and stop it from functioning.
- Trastuzumab (Herceptin) and Pertuzumab (Perjeta) are the most commonly used drugs of this type.
- These drugs are often given together with chemotherapy, thereby increasing the success of chemotherapy.
Learn about clinical trials.
A clinical trial is a study that tests the effectiveness and safety of newly discovered treatments, drugs, or combinations of treatments in people. Many women with stage II breast cancer have the opportunity to participate in these trials.
This can give you access to cutting-edge, advanced treatments. Remember, every successful treatment we use today started as a clinical trial at some point. You can talk to your doctor about this and ask if there is a trial that is right for you.
Take-Home Message
- Stage II breast cancer is a curable condition, so don't be afraid.
- Doctors use a combination of several treatment methods to give you the best results.
- Surgery is usually the primary treatment, followed by radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
- Depending on the nature of your cancer (e.g. hormone-positive, HER2-positive), you will be given the specific treatment (hormonal or targeted therapy) that is most suitable for you.
- Feel free to discuss any questions, concerns, or doubts you may have with your doctor. He or she will tailor a treatment plan that best suits you.
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