Introduction to Early-Stage Breast Cancer
SHARE

Fact Checked

SurvivorNet Fact Checking and Medical Review Standards:  

The SurvivorNet News Team creates high quality medical information that complies with our industry leading standards for factual accuracy and sourcing from leading experts at academic medical institutions. Every news article is thoroughly fact-checked by our physician collaborators. We vet each piece of work for factual integrity, impartiality, and clearly label any professional conflicts.

All SurvivorNet articles adhere to the following standards:

  1. All studies and research papers cited are from reputable academic medical institutions or peer-reviewed journals.
  2. When we use data, statistics, or quotes these references link to the original source.
  3. All content related to new treatments, drugs, procedures, and so on must clearly describe availability, side effects, treatment target (such as triple negative breast cancer)
  4. All medical information on SurvivorNet is sourced from respected medical professionals with verified medical credentials and links are provided to these sources.
  5. We strive to give the reader relevant background information and include, clearly-sourced contextual health information in all articles. Readers are clearly alerted to any conflicts of interest from a medical source or the authors of a cited study.
/ Updated September 26th, 2018

Introduction to Early-Stage Breast Cancer

×

Medical Source:

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

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

Medical Source:

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

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.

NOW
PLAYING
Treatment for Early Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
NOW
PLAYING
CDK4/6 Inhibitors for Breast Cancer Explained
NOW
PLAYING
Hormonal Therapies For Breast Cancer Are Safe to Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic
NOW
PLAYING
Treatment Options for Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer
NOW
PLAYING
Treatment Sequence for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
NOW
PLAYING
Trailblazing TV Chef Dominique Crenn is "Scared and Humbled" by Cancer Diagnosis And Vows to Stay in The Kitchen

Treatment: Choosing Your Treatment

SEE MORE   
Treatment

An Overview of Breast Cancer Treatment

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

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

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

Introduction to Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

Breast Cancer Radiation: The Debate

Dr. Chirag Shah
Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center

Treatment: Choosing Your Treatment

Treatment: COVID-19

SEE MORE   

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

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

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

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

Stress and Anxiety for Cancer Patients During COVID-19

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Treatment: COVID-19

Treatment: Surgical Options

SEE MORE   

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
Treatment

Oncoplastic Surgery

Dr. Sarah Cate
Mount Sinai Health System
Treatment

What is Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy?

Dr. Irene Wapnir
Stanford Medicine
Treatment

Lumpectomy or Mastectomy?

Dr. Sarah Cate
Mount Sinai Health System
Prevention

Prophylactic Mastectomy For High-Risk Women

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

How to Choose a Surgeon – Does Volume Matter?

Dr. Jay Shah
Stanford Medicine

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: Stage Zero Breast Cancer

SEE MORE   
Treatment

What is Stage Zero Breast Cancer?

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

Stage Zero: Should You Watch and Wait?

Dr. Ann Partridge
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Treatment

Standard of Care is to Treat Stage Zero Breast Cancer

Dr. Chirag Shah
Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center

Treatment: Stage Zero Breast Cancer

Treatment: Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer

SEE MORE   
Treatment

Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

What is Tamoxifen?

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

Hormone Therapies for Breast Cancer: Aromatase Inhibitor

Dr. Erica Mayer
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Treatment

Verzenio Is Significant-- Cuts The Risk of Cancer Coming Back In Some Women With Early Breast Cancer-- A First For CDK4/6 Inhibitors

Shelby Black

Treatment: Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer

Treatment: Triple Negative Breast Cancer

SEE MORE   
Treatment

What is Triple Negative Breast Cancer?

Treatment

Treating Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

Treatment for Early Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

Treatment Sequence for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

Treatment Options for Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Treatment: Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Treatment: HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

SEE MORE   
Treatment

Treatment for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Treatment

HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment Options

Dr. Elizabeth Comen
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Treatment: HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Treatment: Reconstruction

SEE MORE   

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

Breast Reconstruction: Regaining Your Sense of Self

Dr. Andrea Pusic
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Treatment

Implant Reconstruction After a Mastectomy: The Options

Dr. Andrea Pusic
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Treatment

The Last Frontier: Restoring Sensation After Mastectomy

Dr. Dung Nguyen
Stanford Medicine
Treatment

Breast Reconstruction: Implants vs. Your Own Tissue

Dr. Andrea Pusic
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Treatment

Saline vs. Silicone Implants

Dr. Andrea Pusic
Brigham and Women's Hospital

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: Lymphedema

SEE MORE   

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

Related Articles

TV Host Giuliana Rancic, 46, Reflects on Her Breast Cancer Journey, Says It’s ‘Incredibly Important to be Informed’

Frustrated ‘Anne With An E’ Star Miranda McKeon, 19, Cannot Sleep or Eat as She Starts Treatment for Breast Cancer; What To Know About Screening

James Michael Tyler Kept Cancer Secret At ‘Friends Reunion’ To Avoid Taking ‘Attention Off the Celebration’; Keeping Cancer Battle Private

Breast Cancer Survivor Christina Applegate, 49, Back to Work Filming New Season of ‘Dead to Me,’ Appears in A Wheelchair

Close

SN GUIDES

The First 60

Begin the breast cancer journey with confidence.

SIGN UP NOW

Thank you!

×

Introducing, the Journey Bar

Use this bar to access information about the steps in your cancer journey.