What happens after the intensive treatment phase?
What you can expect after surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation
Treatment of early breast cancer often begins with an intensive phase that may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these treatments. Finishing this phase can feel like reaching the finish line, but for many people, treatment continues.
The next phase often involves long-term treatment that can last for years. It can look very different from the treatment you may have already been through, with fewer hospital visits, doctor appointments, and daily treatments that become a longer, quieter part of your life.
Breast cancer isn’t just one type
Knowing what type of breast cancer you have can help your care team choose a treatment plan. Two important features are hormone receptors (HR) and a protein called HER2.
There are four main types of breast cancer:
- HR-positive, HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-)
The cancer has hormone receptors but is HER2-negative. This is the most common type of breast cancer. - HR-positive, HER2-positive (HR+/HER2+)
The cancer has hormone receptors and is also HER2-positive. - HR-negative, HER2-positive (HR-/HER2+)
The cancer does not have hormone receptors but is HER2-positive. - Triple-negative breast cancer
The cancer does not have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, or high levels of HER2.
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Breast cancer type is one of the factors a care team considers when planning what comes next.
Approximately 1 in 8 women (~13%) in the U.S. are anticipated to be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life.
Hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer is the most common type, accounting for approximately 70% of all breast cancer cases
That means ~225,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with HR+, HER2- breast cancer this year.
When “done” doesn’t necessarily mean done
You may have spent months focusing on getting through surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. So hearing that there may be another phase of treatment can come as a surprise.
There may be fewer hospital visits. Treatment may fit more easily into your everyday routine. And the people around you may assume cancer treatment is behind you. Meanwhile, you may be adjusting to the idea that treatment—and everything that comes with it — is still part of your life.
This phase may look quieter. But that doesn’t make it less real.”
Why can some long-term treatments continue for years?
Long-term hormone (endocrine) therapy — an option for many early-stage breast cancer patients — is often measured in years rather than weeks or months. Taking hormone therapy for five years or more may be part of your treatment plan. Your doctor can explain what duration and potential benefit mean for your individual diagnosis.
In ER+ breast cancer, estrogen drives the growth of cancer cells by binding to the estrogen receptors. Most hormone therapies are designed to stop the cancer from growing in one of three ways:
Lowering estrogen levels in the body so the cancer cells can't get the estrogen they need to grow.
Blocking estrogen receptors so estrogen can't attach.
Blocking estrogen receptors so estrogen can't attach and destroying the estrogen receptors altogether. Current research is evaluating this mechanism of action in early breast cancer.
Before you start, make sure you know and understand what’s important to you.
You don’t have to understand years of treatment all at once. Start with the questions that matter most now:
- Why is long-term treatment being recommended for me?
- What potential side effects might I experience as part of treatment?
- How long could I be on treatment, and when will we revisit the plan?
- What might treatment mean for my day-to-day life?
- What should I know before I start?
Bring this to your next appointment
To help you plan your next appointment, use our Doctor Discussion Guide to keep the questions that matter to you in one place.
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