Breast Cancer
 
Local Vs. Systemic Treatment  

What is the difference between local and systemic treatment?

Local treatments are those that destroy, remove, or control the cancer cells in a particular area. Surgery and radiation are both local treatments.

Systemic treatments are those that destroy the cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are both systemic treatments.

The stage of a cancer generally will determine which type of treatment is used. Often, breast cancers will undergo a combination of local and systemic treatments. For example, lumpectomy is almost always followed by a course of radiation therapy, because the cancer surgeon cannot be sure that all of the cancer cells were removed when the tumor was removed.

Sometimes, the surgery is the second part of the treatment. For example, some tumors are first treated with chemotherapy or hormonal therapy to suppress the ability of the cancer cells to proliferate. In this approach (called neoadjuvant therapy), once the cancer has shrunk, surgery usually follows.


Questions Related to Local Vs. Systemic Treatment
What is "chemo brain"?
What is cellulitis?
What is "frozen shoulder"?
How can I cope with my lack of energy following treatment?
How should I approach exercise after surgery?
What is a compression sleeve ?
Is there anything I can do to prevent lymphedema?
Why is finishing treatment sometimes more frightening than actually undergoing treatment?
How can I cope with the fear that the cancer will come back?
When is breast cancer most likely to recur?
Are there different types of recurrence of breast cancer?
Who is at risk for lymphedema?
What is lymphedema?
What signs should I watch for that may indicate a recurrence?
Is it safe to use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after cancer?
I had radiation therapy. Can I breastfeed my baby?
Can I have children after my treatment?
Is there anything about my cancer that makes me more likely to have a recurrence?
If my cancer does recur, how will I be treated?
I am a breast cancer survivor. Should I exercise?

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