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If you have a close relative (mother, daughter or sister) who is a breast cancer patient, you may also be at risk for breast cancer, and you should think carefully about the available treatment options. A breast cancer diagnosis is a traumatic experience for anyone, and thinking about your options ahead of time may help prepare you better.

The main treatments for breast cancer are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. In addition, breast cancer patients often sign up for clinical trials or new, experimental treatments.

Breast cancer treatments can be financially, physically and emotionally draining, and it’s vital to protect yourself as thoroughly as possible. If you think you may be at risk for breast cancer, you should apply for a cancer insurance policy on CancerPlans.com so that you will have funds for future treatment and living expenses.

 Here’s a brief overview of several of the most common treatments available:

Surgery. The many varieties of breast cancer surgery include lumpectomy (removes only the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue), partial mastectomy (removes the part of the breast that has cancer, including a larger amount of surrounding healthy tissue) and total mastectomy (removes the whole breast). Often, patients opt for reconstructive surgery to rebuild breasts with artificial materials, or with tissue from another area of the body.

Radiation therapy targets breast cancer cells with high-strength x-rays or other radiation in an effort to kill tumors or keep them from spreading. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body, while internal radiation therapy places a radioactive device directly into the cancerous area.

Chemotherapy kills breast cancer cells (and usually, healthy cells around them) by administering powerful doses of drugs, either orally or via injection. Chemotherapy often causes side effects like hair loss, nausea and fatigue.

(1)  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/breast/Patient/page5