Breast Cancer Special Issue

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is a turning point, a moment at which patients need to start determining what seems like the right treatment path and exerting their best efforts to make it happen.

Treatment for breast cancer is progressing ever forward, with new options routinely making their way into the oncologist's toolbox.

Choosing a treatment based on data can be fraught with challenges, but it can make all the difference.

Certain drugs target estrogen receptor-positive or HER2-positive breast cancers. Research is examining whether better drugs or combinations can improve outcomes.

Radiation therapy after surgery can help prevent the local recurrence of breast cancer, and new methods are allowing doctors to tailor the technique to meet the needs of individual patients.

Amid debate about how much screening should be used to detect breast cancer, women at average risk should know the pros and cons.

In terms of both treatment and the emotional perspective of patients, metastatic breast cancer is different from other stages of the disease.

Breast reconstruction surgery is common after breast tissue is removed during a mastectomy or, less often, a lumpectomy.

For those with localized breast cancer, surgical options may include either lumpectomy or mastectomy, and patients have free rein about which to choose.

If obese when diagnosed, women with certain breast cancers face a higher risk of recurrence — but they still have time to change that outlook.

"I always felt that I would get breast cancer. It was only a question of when," says Shari Levy. Levy's mother died of breast cancer, and Levy, who has dense breasts, has had five breast biopsies.

The latest tweaks to medical strategies can improve outcomes while accommodating the preferences of women with earlier-stage breast cancers.

Angelina Jolie has highlighted the benefits of genetic testing and surgery to prevent hereditary breast cancer, but women must also consider the risks.