Treatments for breast cancer

Your healthcare team will create a treatment plan just for you. The plan is based on your health and specific information about the cancer. What you want is also important when planning treatment. When deciding which treatments to offer for breast cancer, your healthcare team will consider:

  • the stage
  • if you have reached menopause
  • the hormone receptor status of the cancer
  • the HER2 status of the cancer
  • the risk that the cancer will come back, or recur (for early-stage breast cancer)
  • your overall health

Surgery is the main treatment for breast cancer. Other treatments are also used in combination to treat breast cancer, including radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

Treatments for ductal carcinoma in situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is usually treated with surgery, radiation therapy and hormone therapy.

Treatments for early-stage breast cancer

Early-stage breast cancer is often treated with surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. Chemotherapy may also be used.

Treatments for locally advanced breast cancer

Locally advanced breast cancer is often treated with chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, surgery and radiation therapy.

Treatments for metastatic breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer is usually treated with hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy and surgery.

Surgery for breast cancer

Surgery is a medical procedure to examine, remove or repair tissue. Breast cancer is usually treated with surgery.

Risk of recurrence and drug treatment after surgery

Characteristics of breast cancer can help your healthcare team understand the risk of breast cancer coming back after surgery.

Radiation therapy for breast cancer

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. Breast cancer is often treated with radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy for breast cancer

Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. Breast cancer is often treated with chemotherapy.

Hormone therapy for breast cancer

Hormone therapy affects hormones that cancer cells need to grow. Breast cancer is often treated with hormone therapy.

Targeted therapy for breast cancer

Targeted therapy uses drugs to target specific molecules on cancer cells. Breast cancer is sometimes treated with targeted therapy.

Immunotherapy for breast cancer

Breast cancer is sometimes treated with immunotherapy. It helps strengthen the immune system to fight cancer.

Follow-up after treatment for breast cancer

Follow-up is an important part of care for breast cancer. It often involves regular tests and visits with the healthcare team.
Two happy women hug each other smiling

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

matchYour donation to breast cancer this October will be matched! Help make a difference for the 1 in 8 Canadian women expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Your donation will fund compassionate support programs to make life better for people facing breast cancer today and fund world-leading research to  transform the future of breast cancer forever.

See full details*
Two happy women hug each other smiling

Medical disclaimer

The information that the Canadian Cancer Society provides does not replace your relationship with your doctor. The information is for your general use, so be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions or if you have questions about your health.

We do our best to make sure that the information we provide is accurate and reliable but cannot guarantee that it is error-free or complete.

The Canadian Cancer Society is not responsible for the quality of the information or services provided by other organizations and mentioned on cancer.ca, nor do we endorse any service, product, treatment or therapy.


1-888-939-3333 | cancer.ca | © 2024 Canadian Cancer Society