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Australian Prescriber Vol. 21 No. 1 1998

Drug treatment of breast cancer

Breast cancer is a leading cause of premature death for Australian women. As the cancer usually spreads if untreated, it is important that it is found early. Women should tell their doctor about any new lumps in their breasts and those women 50 years of age and over should have a mammogram every two years.

Although surgery has an important role in primary breast cancer, effective drug treatments have reduced the need for extensive surgery. These treatments may be hormones or anticancer drugs. The choice of treatment should be made by the woman, in partnership with the doctor, after them discussing the risks and benefits of the drugs. How successful the treatments are depends on the woman's age, the type of breast cancer and whether or not it has spread. If the lymph glands are not involved, 75% of women treated for breast cancer will still be alive 5 years later.