Breast-Conserving Surgery

• Doctors often consider surgery the first line of treatment with Stage Three breast cancer, because it is an opportunity to remove the cancer from the body, or at least contain it. When possible, doctors perform what is called a breast-conserving surgery, also known as a lumpectomy. This is the first choice because it allows for the doctor to remove the tumor while conserving the healthy breast tissue. It is always in the best interest of the patient to do a lumpectomy rather than a more invasive surgery, since it is natural to have breast tissue. Unfortunately, in some cases, breast-conserving surgery is not possible because of the size of the tumor or the risk to the patient in leaving the surrounding tissues.
  
  

Surgical Treatments

• Unfortunately, in some women, all of the breast tissue has to be removed. A mastectomy is the removal of all of the breast tissue. This is done through a refined procedure that removes just the breast tissue, but generally not the muscles underneath. In the past, it was standard to remove the muscles, but allowing for them to be left behind is less invasive for the patient.
  
  Many patients also have to undergo a lymph node removal when diagnosed with Stage Three cancer. This is because Stage Three cancer is often associated with the spread of the cancer into the lymph nodes. The lymph-node removal can be done on its own or as a part of a lumpectomy or mastectomy if the biopsy shows that the cancer has gone outside of the milk duct.
  
  

Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Therapy

• The term "neoadjuvant therapy" refers to therapy that takes place before surgery. In some cases, a doctor may decide to try therapy before surgery to help to save the breast and provide a better outcome. Hormone-replacement therapy is often considered, as are chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Doctors determine on a case-by-case basis which patients are candidates for this type of treatment.
  
  Adjuvant therapy is the type that takes place after surgery, and is very common for Stage Three cancers. Hormone-replacement therapy is considered for women who have hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, but it not effective for women who have hormone-receptor-negative tumors.
  
  Hormone treatment is often coupled with the use of chemotherapy, as chemotherapy is the most recommended course of treatment post-surgery for women who have invasive breast cancer. Localized radiation is also necessary for some women; exposing the cells to the radiation several times a week will often clear the cells from the body. Hormone, radiation and chemotherapy treatments will vary in terms of the length of the treatment, as well as their effectiveness, based on the type of tumor and the overall health of the patient. The therapy could span days, weeks or months.