Breast Cancer Treatment Options

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) Treatment. DCIS is a pre-cancerous tumor of the breast that should be surgically removed before it develops into outright cancer. The two primary surgical options are lumpectomy or mastectomy. There are many studies that have followed patients for decades, which show that regardless of the technique used (lumpectomy or mastectomy) there is no difference in patient survival—either technique is equally effective. In addition to surgical treatment, a combination of treatments may also be required. These include chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other adjuvant therapies.

Invasive Cancer Treatment. Invasive Cancer is classified from stage I to stage IV based on the position and spread of the disease. Complete staging cannot be accomplished until after surgical removal of both the tumor and related lymph nodes (axillary nodes), because the nodes require microscopic evaluation to rule out spread of the disease. Traditionally, surgeons would remove the majority of lymph nodes in what is called an axillary lymph node dissection. However, in many leading-edge centers such as ours, this has been largely replaced by sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Mammosite Treatment Option. Over a year ago, The Lacks Cancer Center began a groundbreaking breast treatment program called Mammosite. With this procedure, our surgeons are able to implant a balloon into in the breast, temporarily. The balloon is then used to guide a radioactive source to the center of the area where the tumor originated - delivering high doses of radiation directly to the affected tissue. For ideal candidates, Mammosite is typically administered twice daily for one week. Learn more about our Mammosite clinical trial here.

Seek the most aggressive treatments available from our Multidisciplinary Breast Clinic with a referral from your primary care physician or with a self-referral by calling 1-877-LACKS-MI or 616-685-LACK(S).