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Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

From the Breast Health Articles List

What are targeted therapies for breast cancer, and how do I know if they are right for me?


Targeted therapies for breast cancer use drugs to target the molecular changes in cells that are involved in the development, growth, and progression of cancer. One benefit of targeted therapy is that it tends to do less harm to healthy cells than some other treatments.

Targeted therapy can be used for many different reasons depending on the type and stage of the cancer. It may be used to slow your cancer’s growth, cure your cancer, kill cancer cells that have spread, and/or relieve symptoms caused by cancer. To be eligible to use targeted therapy, your cancer cells must have the specific markers the drugs target.

There are many different targeted therapies, but the two main types are antibody drugs and small-molecule drugs. Targeted therapies can be given by pill or infusion, and they are often given along with other chemotherapy drugs, radiation therapy, and/or surgery.

Though targeted therapies are a type of systemic treatment, they tend to have less severe side effects than more traditional chemotherapy. Side effects depend on the specific drug used and may include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, headache, weakness, mouth sores, blood clots, high blood pressure, and a risk of infection. Some drugs come with some more serious risks, so you and your physician will need to discuss the possible side effects for each drug to determine which one may be right for you. When talking with your doctor about different targeted therapies, you may also want to ask about any clinical trials that may be available.


This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.



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