How to Treat Stage II (2) Breast Cancer: All You Need to Know
Summary
TLDRThis video offers an in-depth look at stage 2 breast cancer, detailing the factors that define it, such as tumor size and lymph node involvement. It explores the multifaceted treatment landscape, including surgery options like lumpectomy or mastectomy, the role of chemotherapy and targeted therapy, and the importance of radiation therapy. The video also addresses the biological markers that inform treatment decisions, such as hormone and HER2 receptor status, and the potential use of multi-gene tumor assays. Additionally, it delves into the practical aspects of treatment, including side effects, management strategies, and the financial considerations of different therapies.
Takeaways
- π Stage 2 breast cancer is classified based on tumor size and lymph node involvement.
- π₯ Treatment decisions for stage 2 breast cancer consider factors beyond tumor size and lymph nodes, including the tumor's biological characteristics.
- π Surgery is often the first step, followed by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and possibly hormonal therapy.
- π©Ί Depending on the size of the breast and tumor, a lumpectomy (removing just the tumor) might be possible instead of a mastectomy (removing the entire breast).
- π Chemotherapy is recommended based on the tumor's biology, such as being estrogen/progesterone receptor negative, HER2-positive, or having a high grade.
- 𧬠A multi-gene tumor assay helps determine if chemotherapy is necessary, especially for tumors that are HER2-negative, lymph node-negative, and estrogen receptor-positive.
- π‘ Radiation therapy may be recommended after mastectomy, especially if one to three lymph nodes are positive, and is almost always given after lumpectomy.
- π Targeted therapy, such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), is used if the tumor overexpresses the HER2 protein and can last up to a year.
- π Hormonal therapy is crucial for tumors that are estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive, and is taken as a daily pill for five to ten years.
- π° Costs of treatment are an important consideration, with insurance often covering most treatments but out-of-pocket costs possible for certain medications.
Q & A
What is Stage 2 breast cancer?
-Stage 2 breast cancer refers to a tumor that is larger than 2 centimeters or has spread to one to three lymph nodes under the arm, indicating a more advanced stage than Stage 1.
What factors are considered when making treatment decisions for Stage 2 breast cancer?
-Treatment decisions for Stage 2 breast cancer consider the size of the tumor, the number of affected lymph nodes, and the tumor's biology, including hormone receptor status and HER2 status.
What are the typical treatment options for Stage 2 breast cancer?
-The typical treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy with or without targeted therapy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy.
Can you explain the difference between a lumpectomy and a mastectomy?
-A lumpectomy is a surgical procedure where only the tumor is removed, preserving the breast. A mastectomy involves the removal of the entire breast, and possibly nearby lymph nodes.
Why might a patient receive chemotherapy before surgery for Stage 2 breast cancer?
-Chemotherapy before surgery, known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, is used to shrink the tumor, making it easier to remove, and also to treat any potential cancer cells that may have spread elsewhere in the body.
What is the role of radiation therapy in treating Stage 2 breast cancer?
-Radiation therapy is used to target any remaining cancer cells after surgery and to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. It may be recommended after a lumpectomy or mastectomy, depending on the specifics of the case.
How does the biology of the tumor influence chemotherapy decisions?
-The biology of the tumor, such as being estrogen and progesterone receptor negative, HER2-positive, or having a higher grade, influences the likelihood of chemotherapy being recommended as it indicates the potential effectiveness of the treatment.
What is targeted therapy in the context of Stage 2 breast cancer?
-Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets specific proteins or genes involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. For HER2-positive tumors, drugs like trastuzumab (Herceptin) or pertuzumab (Perjeta) may be used.
What is the purpose of hormonal therapy in breast cancer treatment?
-Hormonal therapy is used to block the effect of estrogen on breast cancer cells or to lower the amount of estrogen in the body, thereby inhibiting the growth of hormone receptor-positive cancer cells.
What are some potential side effects of chemotherapy for breast cancer?
-Potential side effects of chemotherapy include fatigue, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, low white blood cell counts, and in some cases, skin changes or darkening.
How does the cost of treatment for Stage 2 breast cancer impact patients?
-The cost of treatment can be a significant concern for patients. Insurance typically covers most treatments, but out-of-pocket expenses, including for medications and deductibles, can vary. Patient assistance programs may be available for those who cannot afford their medications.
Outlines
π₯ Understanding Stage 2 Breast Cancer
The speaker introduces the topic of stage 2 breast cancer, explaining the staging criteria based on tumor size and lymph node involvement. They clarify that a tumor larger than 2 centimeters or one to three positive lymph nodes can classify a cancer as stage 2. The paragraph discusses the initial steps in treatment, typically starting with surgery, followed by chemotherapy with or without targeted therapy, and often radiation therapy. The importance of considering the tumor's biology in treatment decisions is highlighted, with a focus on factors like tumor size, lymph node status, and the potential for breast conservation or mastectomy.
π Treatment Options for Stage 2 Breast Cancer
This section delves into the specifics of treatment options for stage 2 breast cancer, including the potential for chemotherapy to shrink tumors prior to surgery, thus possibly allowing for breast conservation. It also discusses the role of radiation therapy, which may be recommended post-mastectomy or after lumpectomy, and the significance of lymph node status in this decision. The paragraph further explores the criteria for chemotherapy recommendations, such as tumor biology, receptor status, and the use of multi-gene tumor assays to guide treatment decisions.
π§ͺ Side Effects and Costs of Treatment
The speaker addresses the side effects and costs associated with chemotherapy, including fatigue, hair loss, low white blood cell counts, and the need for white cell boosters. They emphasize the importance of discussing treatment costs with healthcare providers and the potential for out-of-pocket expenses for medications to manage side effects. The paragraph also outlines the process of chemotherapy administration, the role of medical oncologists, and the impact of chemotherapy on daily life, including the recommendation to have a driver post-treatment.
π Radiation Therapy and Targeted Therapy Insights
This paragraph focuses on the process and side effects of radiation therapy, emphasizing its precision and the importance of simulation for treatment planning. It discusses the relatively short duration of radiation therapy sessions compared to chemotherapy and the potential for skin reactions at the treatment site. The paragraph also covers targeted therapy, including its administration alongside chemotherapy and its role in treating HER2-positive tumors. The speaker provides insights into the side effects of targeted therapy and the importance of discussing any reactions with healthcare providers.
πͺ Hormonal Therapy and Its Importance
The final paragraph discusses hormonal therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, detailing its function to block estrogen from reaching residual cancer cells. It outlines the side effects, such as hot flashes, night sweats, leg cramps, and sexual side effects, and the rare but serious risks like blood clots and bone thinning. The speaker stresses the importance of adherence to hormonal therapy, despite potential side effects, and the availability of patient assistance programs for those facing financial barriers to treatment.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Stage 2 Breast Cancer
π‘Tumor Size
π‘Lymph Nodes
π‘Surgery
π‘Chemotherapy
π‘Radiation Therapy
π‘Hormonal Therapy
π‘Targeted Therapy
π‘Multi-gene Tumor Assay
π‘Cost of Treatment
Highlights
Explanation of stage 2 breast cancer and its significance.
Description of tumor size and lymph node involvement in stage 2 breast cancer.
Importance of tumor size alone in determining stage 2 breast cancer.
Role of lymph nodes in staging breast cancer and treatment decisions.
The typical sequence of treatments for stage 2 breast cancer.
Options for surgery in stage 2 breast cancer, including lumpectomy and mastectomy.
Potential for chemotherapy to shrink tumors and alter surgical requirements.
Indications for radiation therapy following mastectomy or lumpectomy.
The influence of tumor biology on treatment decisions for stage 2 breast cancer.
Criteria for recommending chemotherapy based on tumor characteristics.
The role of multi-gene tumor assays in treatment planning.
Targeted therapy options for stage 2 breast cancer, including trastuzumab and pertuzumab.
Duration and side effects of targeted therapy.
Hormonal therapy's role in treating hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
Details on the administration and side effects of hormonal therapy.
Importance of adherence to hormonal therapy in treatment outcomes.
Cost considerations and insurance coverage for breast cancer treatments.
Practical advice for managing side effects and treatment costs.
Encouragement for patients to engage with their healthcare team about treatment options.
Transcripts
hi in this video i'll be talking about
stage 2 breast cancer
i'll start by explaining what stage 2
breast cancer is
then i'll talk about the different
treatments and how we make decisions
about treating stage 2 breast cancer
[Music]
so stage refers to where the tumor is in
the body
the size of the tumor in the breast and
then the number of lymph nodes
or lymph glands under the arm that have
cancer in them
one can have a stage two breast cancer
just based on tumor size alone
if the tumor is bigger than two
centimeters it's only about this
big so two lima beans end to end that's
a t2
tumor and that makes the tumor stage two
you can also have a tumor with a smaller
tumor size but the lymph nodes are
positive one to three lymph nodes
positive
mean that this is a stage two tumor
regardless of how small the tumor is
when we make treatment decisions about
stage two breast cancer we look at
things
other than just the size of the tumor
and the lymph nodes so if you've been
told you have stage two breast cancer
that's actually not a lot of information
for you in terms of the
type of treatment you'll be offered so
let's start with how things usually go
usually people get surgery first and
then chemotherapy
with or without targeted therapy
radiation therapy will be offered to
many patients
and we also give hormonal therapy so
i've mentioned all the different
treatment types and then
the biology of the tumor helps us make
decisions about what type of treatment
we consider
when you have surgery for stage 2 breast
cancer
depending on the size of the breast and
the size of the tumor
you can very likely keep the breast
meaning you don't have to have a
mastectomy which is removal of the
entire breast
in other words you can have a lumpectomy
where we remove
just the tumor itself now if you can't
feel it
how is it a lumpectomy well we'll call
that a wide local excision
the tumor can't be felt so
if you have a small breast and a larger
tumor
in a small breast a mastectomy might be
the best thing for you
removal of the whole breast here's
another option
you can have chemotherapy first to
shrink the tumor
and then it might be possible for you to
have a lumpectomy instead of a
mastectomy
so if you hear about getting
chemotherapy before surgery
we're trying to shrink the tumor as well
as treat the rest of the body which i'll
get to in just a second
so depending on the number of lymph
nodes involved
and the type of surgery you have you may
be offered radiation therapy
even if you have removal of the breast
so we recommend
radiation therapy after mastectomy
in people who have one to three positive
lymph nodes
so just having a mastectomy doesn't mean
you'll need radiation therapy
if you have stage two breast cancer and
the lymph nodes are negative
you'll have radiation therapy if you
have a lumpectomy
and not necessarily if you have a
mastectomy there are always exceptions
and i won't go into those now but you
can read more about those
on our yerba blog so we talked about
surgery and then who would get radiation
therapy if you're a candidate for
chemotherapy
in other words if the biology of your
tumor the personality if you will
indicates that chemotherapy will work
you'll actually get chemotherapy before
radiation therapy
chemotherapy decisions are made on the
basis of not only the stage
but the biology and i'll just briefly
describe those here
if the tumor is estrogen and
progesterone receptor
negative we are more likely to recommend
chemotherapy
that means there's no hormone receptors
on the tumor
chemotherapy is more likely to work if
the tumor is
her2-positive and has this protein
or expression of the gene for her2
human epidermal growth factor receptor
we're more likely to recommend
chemotherapy we also give targeted
therapy in that case
if the tumor has a higher grade
that means the tumor is more active and
looks more disorganized
we're more likely to give chemotherapy
and as i mentioned if the lymph nodes
are positive
you're more likely to get chemotherapy
there's also a special test called
a multi-gene tumor assay
that means your tumor is sent to look at
sort of its
personality in more detail we only do
that in tumors that are her2 negative
and lymph node negative and er positive
estrogen is after positive
if that rescue recurrent score comes
back low
you won't need chemotherapy if it comes
back higher
chemotherapy is more likely to work so
i've talked about surgery
radiation therapy which follows
chemotherapy
i've talked about chemotherapy and i
mentioned targeted therapy so i'll just
tell you a little bit about that
targeted therapy and stage two breast
cancer
includes trastuzumab the brand name you
may have heard is herceptin
and per choosing app the brand name you
may have heard for that
is pergetta if your tumor has the her2
protein
or overexpression of the gene that makes
her two
we will give targeted therapy targeted
therapy
usually goes for up to a year depending
on how you're doing on it
chemotherapy along with targeted therapy
and then you finish out that year of
targeted therapy
hormonal therapy decreases the amount of
estrogen
getting to any residual cancer cells in
the body it doesn't always lower
estrogen
but some of the medications do and this
you'll take for five to ten years
depending on how you tolerate the
medicine
and also features of your tumor that's a
decision you and your doctor will make
so there are lots of different things to
think about in treating sage
to breast cancer i talked about a lot of
different treatment types what i'd like
to do now is go through each treatment
what
you can expect when you get these
different treatment modalities
in terms of what to expect on that day
of treatment
over the whole time and then side
effects and how you might manage those
i'm also going to cover costs
because costs of treatment are very
important and things you may not have
heard about or think about
when a certain treatment's recommended
so we talked about
surgery and that'll be covered in
another one of our videos
but basically surgery unless you have
reconstruction
following a mastectomy is a one day
procedure so it's outpatient most of the
time
if you have your lymph nodes removed
because they're positive or because we
want to figure out if they're positive
the recovery times a little bit longer
because you have an incision
under your arm and what you'll find with
that is your range of motion is a little
decrease don't be afraid to ask for a
physical therapy consultation
to try to improve your range of motion
as soon as possible
what to expect with chemotherapy
chemotherapy is given as an outpatient
in a treatment center
we're trying to treat cells that may
have escaped the tumor before you were
even diagnosed
and spread to other parts of your body
what that means
is that we give treatment to go through
your whole system and the best way to do
that is through a vein
so if you're getting chemotherapy this
is what it looks like
you've already had your consultation
with the kind of doctor
that gives chemotherapy called a medical
oncologist or just an oncologist for
short
you'll understand what treatment will be
given to you
and what to expect but i'm going to give
you a little bit of a preview
you will go to the treatment center
again this is all outpatient
you'll have an iv put into your arm
usually on the side other than your
surgery
or you might have a port which is a
semi-permanent
iv that goes under the skin on your
chest
you don't need a port unless your veins
have been difficult in the past most
people don't need to get a ports one
more procedure and it leaves another
scar
it's a pretty safe procedure but again
wouldn't it be nice to avoid that
when you get to the treatment center and
they put that iv in
the pharmacist or nurse will create your
chemotherapy based on your height and
your weight so it's specialized for you
it's different for every person
and then that medicine will go into the
vein after you've been given
some other medicine to decrease the risk
of side effects
specifically nausea and vomiting
so those medications you'll get before
you get the chemotherapy
the chemotherapy will go in either as an
iv push
through a syringe a small bag or a
larger bag over a longer period of time
the very longest chemotherapy is six
hours
most chemotherapy is much shorter but i
tell my patients plan to be there for a
whole day
that way you're not planning things you
have to get to right afterwards
we do recommend you have a driver for
your chemotherapy
not necessarily because of the
chemotherapy but the medicines we give
to prevent side effects can make you a
little drowsy
also getting chemotherapy is a big deal
and you don't want to be driving
after such a major event in your life
once the chemotherapy is over
the iv comes out of your arm or the port
and you go home
the cost of chemotherapy are usually
covered by insurance
you may have out of pocket costs for the
medicines that you take at home
to prevent nausea both before and after
chemotherapy
so it's important to talk to your doctor
about the cost of treatment
side effects of chemotherapy i'm gonna
they're different for everyone
if you want to learn more about this you
can go to your personalized yerba report
to learn more about the chemotherapy you
might be given and what to expect but in
general
i tell people to expect some fatigue and
that actually gets worse with each
treatment ask for help with things that
you can ask for help for
we also see hair loss with most
chemotherapy
and it's something to talk about what to
expect we also have another video
about hair loss with chemotherapy that
goes into this in much more detail
that can be one of the hardest things
with chemotherapy is losing your hair
we also see low white cell counts which
means that you may get a white cell
booster
along with your chemotherapy the
following day
and that keeps your white cells up so
that you can stay on
track with your chemotherapy and
there are other side effects that
different people can get mouth sores are
pretty uncommon
if you have darker skin let's say you're
a black person
or mediterranean descent you may notice
some darkening or spots on your palms
darkening of the nail beds and even
darkening of the tongue
and gums that all goes away after
chemotherapy and your hair will grow
back too
so i've covered how chemotherapy is
given what to expect
side effects and some of the costs of
treatment as well
next i'm going to talk about radiation
therapy if radiation therapy is part of
your treatment plan
you will first have something called a
simulation
that's the longest appointment in that
appointment
the physicist and the radiation
oncologist the type of cancer doctor
that gives
radiation therapy will work very
carefully to make sure that radiation is
given to the areas that need it
for example the breast in particular
chest wall if you've had a mastectomy
and the neighborhood lymph nodes what we
try to do with that planning
is use a cat scan to make sure we only
radiate the areas that need radiation
therapy
and not the normal tissues so you can
understand why it takes a long time we
want to get this right
now after that simulation or treatment
planning appointment
your radiation therapy is actually much
shorter
than for example chemotherapy radiation
therapy you'll be in and out you'll come
in
you'll change into a gown you'll get
your treatment and go home it takes
about as long
as getting an x-ray or a series of
x-rays you can drive yourself
there is no nausea with radiation
therapy
so we don't give you medications before
radiation therapy
so what about the costs of radiation
therapy
the radiation therapy is covered by
insurance but if you have a high
deductible
plan it might make sense to see if you
can get all your treatment the same year
as your surgery and chemotherapy before
the next
calendar year kicks in and that
deductible starts all over again
radiation oncologists are used to
questions about that what you want to
avoid is any delay between chemotherapy
for example
and starting radiation therapy try to
get your usually six weeks of radiation
therapy and before the end of the
calendar year
side effects include some fatigue
which despite the fact that it's not
going through your whole system
radiation therapy can cause you'll also
notice skin changes where the radiation
is
so around the breast and the lymph nodes
you may get some burning some pinkness
it may actually be bad enough that your
skin sort of comes
off talk to your radiation oncologist
and the nurses about those side effects
because we do have ways
of decreasing the pain or discomfort
serious pain is pretty rare
this all goes away and starts to heal
about two weeks after the end of
radiation therapy
if you don't have a lot of skin side
effects don't worry it's still working
you will not get hair loss with
radiation therapy to the breast
and surrounding areas
okay targeted therapy which again we
give along with chemotherapy
goes for a year your first treatments
will be along with the chemotherapy
and after that when chemo is done you'll
finish out a year
of targeted therapy it's given the same
way chemotherapy is given through a vein
and now it's given every three weeks
once the chemo is over
before that we try to time it along with
your chemotherapy
targeted therapy side effects are much
less than we think about with
chemotherapy your hair will start to
grow in
your fatigue should get better you're
still a patient you're still being seen
in the treatment center
you won't see your doctor as often which
is kind of nice
and the treatment course is a lot
shorter so it doesn't take as long
you can drive yourself most of the time
if you have a reaction
to targeted therapy and we give you
medicine before your targeted therapy
you may want to have a driver talk to
your oncologist about that
and to the nurses the last thing i'm
going to talk about in terms of what to
expect
is with hormonal therapy this again is
given to people whose tumors are
estrogen
and or progesterone receptor positive
hormonal therapy is given as a pill
and you take this once a day for five to
ten years there are several different
kinds
of hormonal therapy but basically what
these medicines do
is block the estrogen in your body
whether you're pre
or postmenopausal from getting to any
residual or remaining cancer cells
in other parts of your body side effects
with hormonal therapy depend on which
drug you get
and depend on you personally but
basically
the sort of top ones we talk about are
hot flashes or
night sweats people with tamoxifen can
get
leg cramps we also think about sexual
side effects such as
vaginal dryness or discomfort and then
finally there are rare but serious side
effects which differ according to the
drug so tamoxifen
rarely causes blood clots in the legs
and rarely causes an increased risk of
uterine cancer
cancer of the uterus endometrial cancer
again it's very rare
and it's caught early but it's something
to know about you don't have a uterus
not something to worry about with the
aromatase inhibitors which actually
decrease the amount of estrogen in your
body by blocking production of estrogen
the side effects you should know about
with this are thinning of the bones
without
estrogen in your body your bones can get
a little thinner now we have ways of
treating you and monitoring for that
which we'll go over
in another video and that you can see on
our yerba blog
and also in your personalized yerba
report
but this is important to know about the
other thing is there appears to be a
slightly higher risk of cardiovascular
disease with the aromatase inhibitors so
that's something you'll want to be
followed for
if you have a high cholesterol get that
treated exercise do all the right things
you can for your heart regardless of
whether or not you've had breast cancer
the costs of hormonal therapy are
covered by insurance
if you can't afford your medicine you
can ask your doctor
or the rest of your medical team to help
you get patient assistance
which the pharmaceutical companies will
actually provide the medication to you
at a lower cost the generics are just as
good as the brand name so
ask for the generics the generic version
of the medications they're a lot less
expensive
if you get side effects or if you have
concerns about cost with hormonal
therapy
talk to your teen it turns out a lot of
women come
off hormonal therapy because of the side
effects i told you about and never tell
their doctor in fact they may not even
return to their oncologist's office
hormonal therapy is essential in the
treatment of hormone receptor breast
cancer
a lot of people think i've been through
chemotherapy i've been through targeted
therapy surgery
radiation therapy hormonal therapy is
not that important it's actually in many
cases
more effective than chemotherapy or
targeted therapy
so do make sure you've done everything
you can to stay on it
and work with your doctor if you're not
tolerating one medicine we can switch to
the other
if you're going through treatment for
stage 2 breast cancer
you can learn more about your own
treatment remember at your own
personalized report on yearbook.com
and if you'd like this video why don't
you like it and subscribe so more people
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