Personalized Care for Hormone Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer on the Central Coast
Hormone receptor-negative breast cancer can’t be treated with hormone therapy. Reassuringly, other types of treatment can be just as effective — if not more so.
Hormone receptor-negative breast cancers represent about 25 to 30 percent of all breast cancer cases. Dignity Health Central Coast’s team of compassionate doctors who specialize in oncology services offer personalized care for hormone receptor-negative breast cancer on the Central Coast of California.
If you have questions about healing and hormone receptor-negative breast cancer treatment, Find a Doctor today at Dignity Health Central Coast.
Treatment for Hormone Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer at Dignity Health Central Coast
The cancer cells associated with this type of breast cancer tend to grow more quickly than hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. They also occur more often in premenopausal women.
Because men rarely develop breast cancer, being a woman is the main risk factor for hormone receptor-negative breast cancer. Other risk factors include:
- Having dense breast tissue
- Past exposure to the synthetic estrogen Diethylstilbestrol
- Being Caucasian
- Aging
- Early menstruation (younger than 12) or late menopause (older than 55)
- Family or personal history of breast cancer
- Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes
- Previously receiving chest radiation therapy
The most common symptom of hormone receptor-negative breast cancer is a lump — although cancer screenings such as mammograms often catch breast cancers before symptoms appear. Other symptoms can include a change in the size or shape of a nipple, nipple discharge that is not breast milk, or skin changes or swelling around the nipple.
Your Dignity Health Central Coast doctor will diagnose hormone receptor-negative breast cancer with a sample of tissue from a biopsy.
Personalized Care for ER Negative Breast Cancer
Dignity Health Central Coast’s team of oncology experts focus on quality care and will work closely with you to develop the most effective treatment plan. Together, you will take the first step toward finding healing and balance for your physical, mental, and spiritual needs.
There are two main treatments for hormone receptor-negative breast cancer: chemotherapy and surgery. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.
Your Dignity Health Central Coast doctor may recommend surgery to remove the tumor and tissue surrounding it — a procedure called a lumpectomy. In some cases, your doctor may talk to you about the need to remove the entire breast. This is called a mastectomy. The type of surgery will depend on the stage of your cancer.
Your doctor will explain your options and help you through every step of your treatment.
Experts at Dignity Health offer comprehensive, compassionate care for different types of breast cancers, including hormone receptor-negative breast cancer, on California’s Central Coast.