What is the treatment for breast cancer?

The treatment for breast cancer depends on the staging or a determination of how far the cancer has spread. Most patients undergo surgery to remove the cancerous tissue, either with a mastectomy (removing the entire breast) or a lumpectomy (removing the cancer and some surrounding healthy tissue). Women who undergo lumpectomy often undergo radiation as well to kill any remaining cancer cells. Some patients also undergo chemotherapy either before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to try to prevent a recurrence. Then depending on the type of breast cancer, some patients will undergo additional treatment with hormone therapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapies.