Breast cancer treatments

Understanding your breast cancer options

Every breast cancer is a little different. Ask questions.

Once you’re diagnosed, the next step is understanding your cancer and the options available for you. Your breast biopsy gives your medical team important details about the exact kind of breast cancer you have and the best way to treat it. They will consider:

• Your tumor’s histological grade
• Your tumor’s stage
• Your tumor’s size
• Your tumor’s biology (cell type and receptor status)
• Your tumor’s behavior (some types grow slow, other types grow fast)
• Your age, general health, menopausal status, and individual preferences
• Your breast cancer genetics (the presence of known mutations in inherited breast cancer genes, such as BRCA1or BRCA2)

Although each person’s cancer experience is unique, cancers with similar stages/grades tend to have a similar outlook and are often treated in much the same way.