Introduction to Early-Stage Breast Cancer
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/ Updated July 11th, 2022

Introduction to Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Medical Source: Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
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If you’ve been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, there are a handful of treatment options for you to consider. This section aims to explain what those options are, and when something like a lumpectomy or a mastectomy is necessary.

In addition to providing information about treatment and the different types of cancer, the goal at SurvivorNet is to provide answers to other questions you may have after a diagnosis – like how you can adjust your lifestyle, or whether something like genetic testing is necessary.


Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen serves as a medical advisor to SurvivorNet. She is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Read More

If you’ve been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, there are a handful of treatment options for you to consider. This section aims to explain what those options are, and when something like a lumpectomy or a mastectomy is necessary.

In addition to providing information about treatment and the different types of cancer, the goal at SurvivorNet is to provide answers to other questions you may have after a diagnosis – like how you can adjust your lifestyle, or whether something like genetic testing is necessary.

Read More

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen serves as a medical advisor to SurvivorNet. She is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Read More

Approaching Treatment: The Basics

Your treatment can be guided by factors including hormones, genetics, and the specific characteristics of your specific cancer.

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Treatment: Choosing Your Treatment

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Treatment

An Overview of Breast Cancer Treatment

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
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Treatment

The Unique Features of Breast Cancer: Deciding the Right Course of Treatment

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
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Treatment

A 'New' Type Of Breast Cancer? Practice-Changing Results? New Study Says Yes, And Provides Hope For Patients With HER2 'Low' Breast Cancer

Dr. James Taylor

Surgery or Chemo First? How is Breast Cancer Treatment Order Determined

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Treatment

Introduction to Early-Stage Breast Cancer

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Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Treatment: Choosing Your Treatment

Treatment: COVID-19

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The COVID-19 Pandemic Shines Light On Value Of Healthcare Workers

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Treatment

Hormonal Therapies For Breast Cancer Are Safe to Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Treatment

Stress and Anxiety for Cancer Patients During COVID-19

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
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Treatment: COVID-19

Treatment: Surgical Options

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A mastectomy involves removing the breast – a treatment route many patients with breast cancer feel they will have no choice but to undergo. But it’s not the only surgical option.

Treatment

When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?

Dr. Ann Partridge
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
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Oncoplastic Surgery

Dr. Sarah Cate
Mount Sinai Health System
Treatment

What is Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy?

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Lumpectomy or Mastectomy?

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Prevention

Prophylactic Mastectomy For High-Risk Women

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Treatment

How to Choose a Surgeon – Does Volume Matter?

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Treatment: Surgical Options

A mastectomy involves removing the breast – a treatment route many patients with breast cancer feel they will have no choice but to undergo. But it’s not the only surgical option.

Treatment: Reconstruction

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For patients who do have to have their breasts or a piece of their breasts removed, there are a number of surgical reconstruction options available.

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Breast Reconstruction: Regaining Your Sense of Self

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What Happens During a Double Mastectomy?

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Implant Reconstruction After a Mastectomy: The Options

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The Last Frontier: Restoring Sensation After Mastectomy

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Stanford Medicine
Treatment

Breast Reconstruction: Implants vs. Your Own Tissue

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Saline vs. Silicone Implants

Dr. Andrea Pusic
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Treatment: Reconstruction

For patients who do have to have their breasts or a piece of their breasts removed, there are a number of surgical reconstruction options available.

Treatment: Stage Zero Breast Cancer

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Treatment

What is Stage Zero Breast Cancer?

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Treatment

Stage Zero: Should You Watch and Wait?

Dr. Ann Partridge
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Standard of Care is to Treat Stage Zero Breast Cancer

Dr. Chirag Shah
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Treatment: Stage Zero Breast Cancer

Treatment: Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer

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Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

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Treatment

What is Tamoxifen?

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Treatment

Hormone Therapies for Breast Cancer: Aromatase Inhibitor

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New Hope For Some Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients: FDA Approves Targeted Therapy Drug Verzenio

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Treatment: Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer

Treatment: Triple Negative Breast Cancer

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What is Triple Negative Breast Cancer?

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Treating Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
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Treatment for Early Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

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FDA Approval of Olaparib 'A Real Milestone' For Breast Cancer

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Treatment Sequence for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

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Treatment Options for Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer

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Treatment: Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Treatment: HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

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Treatment

A 'New' Type Of Breast Cancer? Practice-Changing Results? New Study Says Yes, And Provides Hope For Patients With HER2 'Low' Breast Cancer

Dr. James Taylor
Treatment

Treatment for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
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Treatment

HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Options

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
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Treatment: HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Treatment: Lymphedema

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Lymphedema is a chronic swelling that can occur after breast cancer surgery and radiation.

Living

What is Lymphedema?

Dr. Dung Nguyen
Stanford Medicine
Treatment

Understanding and Treating Lymphedema

Dr. Dung Nguyen
Stanford Medicine

Treatment: Lymphedema

Lymphedema is a chronic swelling that can occur after breast cancer surgery and radiation.

Continue The Journey

Explore: Later Stage Treatment

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