Treatment Options
When considering treatment options, it is important to understand that there can be different schools of thought on what treatment option(s) an advanced breast cancer patient should consider next. Cancer research is a large on-going enterprise, so new information and sometimes seemingly contradictory information is coming out all the time. Each school of thought will be based on research evidence but also carries with it some data limitations and unanswered questions. As a patient, you will want to understand all of your options, including clinical trials. To help you think more about why you might want to consider participating in a clinical trial take a look at the following article from the National Cancer Institute: "Should I Take Part in a Clinical Trial?"
Based on the current scientific evidence, some organizations have put together treatment guidelines and decision tools that can be helpful for you and your doctor to look at together. In an ever-changing environment like breast cancer research, it is not uncommon for different organizations and different scientists to differ in how they look at the scientific evidence and how they think that evidence should impact treatment recommendations. So, it is important for you and your doctor to understand how these recommendations and decision making tools were developed. Look these guidelines over and then discuss them with your doctor. Ask questions until you feel you are comfortable with and understand all of your treatment options and why they might be the best option for you.
Treatment Guidelines
The National Cancer Institute (NCI)
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provide something called the PDQ Cancer Information Summary. It provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the treatment of breast cancer. There is a professional version and a less technical, patient version. The summaries are broken down by Stage of Disease and are reviewed 8 times/year and updated as necessary by the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board. The Editorial Board consists of specialists in the treatment of adult cancers and includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, and urologists. Information about the following is included in each summary:
- Genetic characteristics and risk factors
- Prognostic factors
- Cellular classification
- Staging
- Treatment options by cancer stage
This summary is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians and their patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making specific healthcare decisions. Some of the reference citations in the summary are accompanied by a level-of-evidence designation. These designations are intended to help readers assess the strength of the evidence supporting the use of specific interventions or approaches. Based on the strength of the available evidence, treatment options are described as either "standard" or "under clinical evaluation." The NCI PDQ Summary for Stages IIIB, IIIC, and IV Treatment can be viewed at:
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is a not-for-profit alliance of 21 of the world's leading cancer centers dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of care provided to patients with cancer. NCCN develops important resources such as clinical practice guidelines that are appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other healthcare decision-makers.
American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO)
ASCO’s clinical practice guidelines can serve as a guide for doctors and outline appropriate methods of treatment and care. Guidelines can address specific clinical situations (disease-oriented) or use of approved medical products, procedures, or tests (modality-oriented).
Breast Cancer Network of Strength
Breast Cancer Network of Strength has taken the approach of looking at metastatic treatment options by location of metastasis
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
As part of their larger Breast Cancer Guide, The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has carefully put together user-friendly information about treatment options/recommendations as well as decision trees and other helpful tools specifically for:
BrainMetsBC.org
Decision Tools
- Making Treatment Decisions - American Cancer Society
The ACS works with NexCura(TM) to provide access to treatment option tools, interactive tools designed to help patients make informed treatment decisions.
Other Info To Help You Make Decisions
Please check out more detailed information concerning metastatic/advanced breast cancer treatment on the AdvancedBreastCancerCommunity.org website:
- Chemotherapy
- Hormonal therapy
- Biologic therapy
- Radiation
- Surgery
- Clinical Trials
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies
- Treatment Frequently Asked Questions - Susan G. Komen for the Cure
