Breast cancer
Treatment for breast cancer
Treatment for breast cancer varies from person to person. Your treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy.
Last updated: 12 March 2026
Sources and references What's on this page
Making treatment decisions
Sometimes it is difficult to decide on the type of treatment to have. You may feel that everything is happening too fast, or you might be anxious to get started. Check with your specialist how soon treatment should begin, as it may not affect the success of the treatment to wait a while.
Ask them to explain the options, and take what time you can before making a decision.
Know your options
Understanding the disease, the available treatments, possible side effects and any extra costs can help you weigh up the options and make a well-informed decision. Check if the specialist is part of a multidisciplinary team and if the treatment centre is the most appropriate one for you – you may be able to have treatment closer to home, or it might be worth travelling to a centre that specialises in a particular treatment.
Record the details
When your doctor first says you have cancer, you may not remember everything you are told. Taking notes can help. If you would like to record the discussion, ask your doctor first. It is a good idea to have a family member or friend go with you to appointments to join in the discussion, write notes or simply listen.
Ask questions
If you are confused or want to check anything, it is important to ask your specialist questions. Try to prepare a list of questions before appointments. If you have a lot of questions, you could talk to a breast care nurse.
Consider a second opinion
You may want to get a second opinion from another specialist, to confirm or clarify your specialist’s recommendations, or to reassure you that you have explored all of your options. Specialists are used to people doing this. Your GP or specialist can refer you to another specialist and send your initial results to that person. You can get a second opinion even if you have started treatment or still want to be treated by your first doctor. You might decide you would prefer to be treated by the second specialist.
It’s your decision
Adults have the right to accept or refuse any treatment that they are offered. For example, some people with advanced cancer choose treatment that has significant side effects, even if it gives only a small benefit for a short period of time. Others decide to focus their treatment on quality of life. You may want to discuss your decision with the treatment team, GP, family and friends.
Treatment
Treatment for early or locally advanced breast cancer varies from person to person. The treatment that is best for you will depend on your test results, where the cancer is in the breast, the stage and grade of the cancer, and whether the cancer is hormone receptor and/or HER2 positive or triple negative. Your doctor will also consider your age and general health, and your preferences. Treatment for early and locally advanced breast cancer usually includes surgery. Before surgery, however, you may have other types of treatment to shrink the cancer. This is called neoadjuvant treatment.
Treatment options for breast cancer include:
Treatment for advanced breast cancer
Advanced breast cancer is different from locally advanced breast cancer. Locally advanced breast cancer is cancer (larger than 5 cm) that has spread to tissue around the breast or to a large number of lymph nodes. Advanced breast cancer is cancer that has spread to more distant body parts. It is also called metastatic or secondary breast cancer. Find out more about staging breast cancer.
Breast cancer can spread to many different parts of the body, but it is most likely to spread to the bones, liver, lungs or brain. The treatment for advanced breast cancer varies from person to person. It will depend on the type of breast cancer and where in the body the cancer has spread.
The treatment for advanced breast cancer aims to control the spread of the cancer and relieve any symptoms you may develop. You may have one or more of the following treatments:
In some cases, radiation therapy may be used to reduce the size of the cancer and to relieve pain. Surgery is not often used for advanced breast cancer, but it may be used to treat cancer in the bones, lungs, brain or liver. While it’s not possible to cure advanced breast cancer at this time, these treatments may improve quality of life for many months and sometimes years. For more information related to advanced breast cancer, see our other resources:
- Living with Advanced Cancer
- Understanding Cancer Pain
- Understanding Secondary Bone Cancer
- Understanding Secondary Liver Cancer
- The Thing About Advanced Cancer podcast series.
Breast Cancer Network Australia has more detailed information about advanced breast cancer. Visit bcna.org.au.
Find out more about:
Sources and references
This information has been developed by Cancer Council NSW on behalf of all other state and territory Cancer Councils and Cancer Council Australia as part of a National Cancer Information Subcommittee initiative. We thank the reviewers of this content: Dr Diana Adams, Medical Oncologist, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, NSW; Prof Bruce Mann, Specialist Breast Surgeon and Director, Breast Cancer Services, The Royal Melbourne and The Royal Women’s Hospitals, VIC; Dr Shagun Aggarwal, Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Prince of Wales, Sydney Children’s and Royal Hospital for Women, NSW; Andrea Concannon, consumer; Jenny Gilchrist, Nurse Practitioner Breast Oncology, Macquarie University Hospital, NSW; Monica Graham, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Natasha Keir, Nurse Practitioner Breast Oncology, GenesisCare, QLD; Dr Bronwyn Kennedy, Breast Physician, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW; Lisa Montgomery, consumer; A/Prof Sanjay Warrier, Specialist Breast Surgeon, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Dr Janice Yeh, Radiation Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC. We also thank the health professionals, consumers and editorial teams who have worked on previous editions of this title.
Photographs have been reproduced with permission from A/Prof James French, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, NSW; Prof Elisabeth Elder, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and The University of Sydney, NSW; and Breast Cancer: Taking Control, breastcancertakingcontrol.com © Boycare Publishing, 2010.
Breast Cancer
Cancer Council 13 11 20
Call us to talk to a specially trained health professional for free and confidential support and information.
Guide to best cancer care
This breast cancer guide explains the standard of high-quality cancer care that all Australians can expect, from diagnosis, to treatment, recovery, and living with cancer.