Considering Treatment Options for Early Stage Breast Cancer
- Country singer Jillian Cardarelli, 33, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer a few years after creating a song honoring her mother’s long battle with stage 4 breast cancer, giving the lyrics a deeper personal meaning.
- She’s awaiting final test results to determine her full treatment plan, but doctors are confident her cancer can be successfully treated and that she can go on to live a long, healthy life.
- According to Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the first step in treating early-stage breast cancer is usually surgery to remove the cancer.
- This may involve a lumpectomy, where only the tumor and surrounding tissue are removed, often followed by radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence.
- However, treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Factors like age, tumor size, family history, and personal preference may influence whether radiation is needed or if a patient chooses a more aggressive approach, such as a mastectomy—removal of the entire breast.
- Many women opt for breast reconstruction following a mastectomy. This procedure can involve implants made from the patient’s own tissue or saline or silicone materials to restore shape and appearance.
- Reconstruction can be performed either immediately after a mastectomy or delayed for several months, depending on personal preference and medical recommendations.
“I never imagined I’d hear those lyrics through the lens of my own diagnosis,” she told People Magazine, reflecting on learning she has stage 2 breast cancer.
“Some of the things that would predicate a mastectomy (removal of the breast) are things like a large tumor size to breast ratio, or having cancer in more than one area of the breast, or things like a genetic mutation,” Dr. Cate explains to SurvivorNet.
“At Mount Sinai, we’re not doing a lot of mastectomies unless we’re following those very strict guidelines,” Dr. Cate added.
WATCH: Recovering from a Lumpectomy
Lumpectomy is a surgery to remove cancerous or abnormal tissue from the breast. It’s also known as breast-conserving surgery because, unlike mastectomy, only the tumor and some of the surrounding tissue are removed.
Cardarelli says she sensed something wasn’t right in the weeks leading up to her diagnosis. She’d long been monitored for dense fibrous breast tissue – first identified when she was 25 – but nothing concerning had ever shown up on imaging.
“I knew my body. I was a little more tired,” she recalled. After seeing her doctor, she learned the news she feared: she had breast cancer.
The diagnosis brought a rush of emotions from anger and fear to uncertainty. Since her mother has been living with stage 4 breast cancer for 12 years, the moment carried an added layer of heartbreak.
“The fact that my mother, who has had stage 4 cancer for the last 12 years, has to now help her daughter navigate this is very unfair,” she said.
Cardarelli and her medical team are now working through additional testing to finalize her treatment plan. She expects surgery to be the first step, but the rest is still being determined.
“They are confident this can be eradicated, and I will hopefully live a very long, normal, healthy, and happy life,” she said.
Expert Resources for Breast Cancer Patients Weighing Treatment Options
- What Happens During a Double Mastectomy?
- Recovering from a Lumpectomy
- Should I Have a Lumpectomy or Mastectomy?
- GPS-Like Technology Is The Way Of The Future For Breast Cancer Lumpectomy Surgery, Experts Tell Us
- “Hip Hop Chemo” – Breast Cancer Survivor’s Moves to Stop the Stigma
- Breaking Down the Major Shift in Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
Understanding Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treatment: What Comes After Diagnosis
When country singer Jillian Cardarelli was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, she joined thousands of women facing a critical question: What are my treatment options?
Early-stage breast cancer typically means the tumor is small and hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes. For stage one breast cancer, the first step is to remove the cancer. If a woman undergoes a lumpectomy, radiation therapy is often recommended afterward.
However, treatment plans aren’t one-size-fits-all.
WATCH: Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treatment
Personal details like a woman’s age may help determine if radiation is needed or not. Some women, based on tumor size, family history, or personal preference, may choose a more aggressive approach—such as a mastectomy to remove the entire breast.
If surgery is selected as a treatment option, once it is complete, a pathologist then examines the removed tissue to determine whether additional treatment is needed. This helps determine if surgery managed to remove all of the cancer or if some is still around. The next phase is crucial in reducing the risk of recurrence.
Additional treatment options include radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.
Common treatment options for early-stage breast cancer include:
- Surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy)
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
“Even women with early-stage breast cancer ideally need some form of therapy after surgery to help prevent the cancer from coming back,” Dr. Comen emphasized.
Chemotherapy stops cancerous cells from growing, dividing, and spreading to other organs. It works by traveling through the bloodstream, killing cancerous cells. However, the process also impacts healthy cells, leading to side effects.
- Chemotherapy side effects may include:
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Neuropathy may bring weakness in the hands or feet and difficulty with motor skills.
- Hair loss
If losing your hair is a concern for you before cancer treatment, know you have options like wigs, hats, wraps, and scarves, among other things.
Another option that can minimize hair loss is cryotherapy, “just a fancy way for saying cold therapy,” says Dr. Renata Urban, gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Cryotherapy involves wearing cold caps or special cooling caps before, during, and after each chemotherapy treatment.
What to Expect from a Mastectomy
When you’re faced with possibly getting a mastectomy, many factors go into the decision-making process, such as the size and features of the tumor and your family history. Some patients may opt for a lumpectomy instead, which is when doctors remove just the cancer and an area of healthy tissue around it rather than the entire breast or breasts.
Some women decide to have their breasts reconstructed after undergoing a mastectomy and have implants put in right away, while others don’t have reconstruction at all.
WATCH: Regaining your sense of self after reconstruction.
Dr. Port added that most women opt to have some sort of reconstruction. The length of these surgeries can vary greatly. When implants are used, the procedure can take two to three hours (so the total surgery time would be around five hours). There is also the option to take one’s own tissue (usually from the belly area) and transfer it into the breast area during reconstruction.
Navigating the Emotional Journey of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and it’s completely natural for emotions to fluctuate throughout the process. Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik explains that emotional responses can shift from day to day, sometimes bringing unexpected waves of stress or uncertainty.
“The patient or person going through the stressful event should accept that emotions will be fluid,” Dr. Plutchik says. “You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. It’s also important for those you look to for support—whether that’s a therapist, friends, family, or both—to understand the fluidity of stress-related emotions.”
If your emotional well-being begins to feel significantly impacted, seeking mental health support may be beneficial. Options for care include traditional talk therapy, medication, lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet modifications, joining a support group, or other personalized approaches.
Here are a few ways to help manage the emotional toll of a breast cancer diagnosis:
- Lean on loved ones. Open up to your family and close friends, allowing them to step in and offer support. Many cancer survivors express a strong need for assistance but struggle to ask for help—encourage those around you to offer practical aid, whether it’s meals, transportation, or simply a listening ear.
- Keep a journal. Writing down your thoughts and emotions can be a powerful way to process feelings. A journal provides a safe space to express yourself and reflect on your journey.
- Join a cancer support group. Local and online groups offer an opportunity to connect with others who are facing similar experiences. Learning from others and sharing your story can provide comfort and strength on difficult days.
- Consider therapy. Speaking with a mental health professional can help you navigate fears and concerns in a safe, supportive environment. Sometimes, vocalizing emotions rather than keeping them inside makes a meaningful difference in coping with stress.
While the path may feel uncertain, finding the right support system and coping strategies can make a profound impact on your mental and emotional well-being. Breast cancer is a challenge, but you are not alone—and healing happens in many ways beyond the physical.
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you may have questions about how to keep your strength through treatment. Here are a few questions to help you begin the conversation:
- What treatment will I be receiving?
- What side effects are associated with this treatment?
- Are there steps I can take daily to help minimize these side effects?
- What physical activity routine do you recommend for me during treatment?
- Do you have recommendations for someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy exercise?
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