Hormone (endocrine) therapy is a systemic, targeted treatment available for certain women who have estrogen positive (ER+ (ER positive, estrogen receptor positive) or PR+ (PR positive, progesterone receptor positive)) tumors. It can be given along with chemotherapy, or in place of it.
Hormonal Therapy (for hormone receptor positive breast cancer)
Chemotherapy (for multiple types of cancer, including triple negative breast cancer)
Chemotherapy involves drugs used to kill cancer cells. Today it is given with anti-nausea medication to reduce this debilitating side effect. Specific kinds of chemotherapy are:
Anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and epirubicin (Ellence)
Taxanes, such as paclitaxel (Taxol) and docetaxel (Taxotere)
5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
Not all women with breast cancer will receive chemotherapy.
Radiation
After surgery and/or reconstruction, some women go straight to chemotherapy; they will sometimes have breast radiation therapy after their chemo. Others will have radiation after surgery. Women can also choose to participate in an adjuvant (post-surgery) clinical trial before radiation therapy.
Surgery
Surgery options include breast conserving surgery (called BCS or lumpectomy) or removal of the breast (mastectomy). In addition, lymph nodes may be removed from under the arm to check for the presence of cancer cells. Currently, a sentinel node biopsy can identify lymph node involvement with much less of a chance of the debilitating effect of arm swelling or lymphedema which may result after having lymph nodes removed.
How can we schedule a Pink and Teal Seminar?
Please call Arlene Matlick, Manager of Pink and Teal Seminars, at (212) 221-1593 or email her at amatlick@sharecancersupport.org to schedule a seminar or to request more information.
Is there a fee for this service?
Like all of SHARE's services, a Pink and Teal Seminar is free.
What materials will you bring to our office?
All attendees will receive a Pink and Teal booklet designed to accompany the presentation. It is an excellent resource tool and is edited by several doctors and updated and published by SHARE annually.
Is there anything my company needs to provide, such as lunch, a conference room, or audiovisual equipment?
We only need a conference room or space large enough to accommodate the attendees. Although some companies do provide lunch or other refreshments, there is no requirement to do so. We do not need any special equipment although you may consider videoconferencing a live seminar to employees at other sites
When are Pink and Teal seminars offered?
Although lunchtime is the most popular time requested, we can offer a seminar at whatever time works best for your office. Seminars are offered year round, Monday through Friday.
How long is a Pink and Teal seminar?
A Pink and Teal Seminar runs a full hour including Q and A.