Treatments

Breast surgery

Available at Solihull Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham:

• breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy)
• mastectomy
• axillary surgery
  • sentinel lymph node biopsy
  • axillary lymph node clearance
• oncoplastic surgery (reshaping techniques to preserve the breast)
• breast reconstruction (immediate or delayed)

Prostheses

Before you leave the hospital, after your mastectomy, we will provide you with a temporary prosthesis to wear and offer advice on suitable bras.  

Approximately six weeks after your surgery, you will have an appointment scheduled with our prosthesis team, who will fit you with a permanent silicone prosthesis.

Radiotherapy

Many patients require radiotherapy after surgery. This uses targeted x-rays to reduce the risk of cancer returning. Educational guides and videos are available to help you prepare for treatment.

Hormone (endocrine) therapy

Certain types of breast cancer rely on the female hormone oestrogen to grow. If you have oestrogen receptor positive cancer (ER-positive), you may be offered medication to block or inhibit the effects of oestrogen. This treatment is typically administered for five years or longer. 

Treatment usually lasts at least five years.

Primary hormone therapy (endocrine)

Some patients with complex health needs may be prescribed hormone tablets as their primary (main) treatment for breast cancer, instead of undergoing surgery. In this situation, we will monitor your progress in the clinic and conduct ultrasound scans to assess your lump. Once we are confident that the medication is working effectively, you will be discharged back to the care of your GP.

It is important to continue taking the medication indefinitely, so please discuss any unwanted side effects with the team.

Chemotherapy

Some people require chemotherapy to treat their breast cancer. Chemotherapy involves using drugs that can be either injected or taken as tablets. If you need chemotherapy, your oncologist will explain the treatment process and the reasons for it. This treatment is often administered regularly over several months. 

Targeted therapy

Some breast cancers have an excess amount of a protein called HER2, which is known as HER2-positive breast cancer. The higher levels of HER2 promote the growth of cancer cells. To treat this type of breast cancer, we use specialised drugs that specifically target these proteins to slow down or stop the growth of the cancer. These targeted therapy drugs are often used in combination with chemotherapy.

Triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancers lack oestrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and HER2 receptors, making receptor-targeting drugs ineffective. Therefore, patients with triple-negative breast cancer are more likely to be treated with chemotherapy.