Because everyone is different, it is not possible to predict what side effects any one person will have, or whether Herceptin treatment will be effective for you. It's important to discuss potential treatment benefits and risks with your doctor and to have realistic expectations of Herceptin therapy.
Learning About Breast Cancer
Learn more about breast cancer, its symptoms and stages, and consider the available treatment options. Also, find out what you can expect, whether you have recently been diagnosed, have already started treatment, or just found out a loved one has breast cancer.
Breast cancer is a common cancer among women in the United States and only second to skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates about 178,480 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2007.
A cancer's stage refers to how much the cancer has grown and where it has spread. Staging systems help describe the cancer, so that the doctor can decide what treatments are appropriate.
Knowing the biological makeup of the tumor helps the doctor understand how quickly any cancer might grow and what treatments may be best.
Knowing what kind of tumor you have helps your doctor decide how much you are at risk for cancer coming back and which adjuvant treatments you should receive.
Depending on your risk factors and the stage of the tumor, your doctor will select the appropriate course of treatment.
It is important for you to understand breast cancer, and also to keep in mind that there are things you can do to help manage your cancer.
Family members and friends can play a vital role in helping patients with breast cancer cope with their diagnosis and treatment.
| 
Español
