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Discovering the presence of breast cancer during a mammogram can feel overwhelming. It can leave you feeling helpless and as though you've received a death sentence. However, it is important to realize there have been major advances recently in breast cancer treatment. There are numerous options available and you should investigate them all.

Surgery is one option for breast cancer treatment. When surgery is indicated, there are several different types your surgeon may perform. In a mastectomy, the entire breast is removed. In a lumpectomy, just an area of the breast containing the cancer is removed. The choice depends on many factors. Your health care professional can help you to understand these factors.

Another common breast cancer treatment is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy affects the entire body as it is injected into the bloodstream. The objective is to prevent spread of the cancer, and to kill the cancer cells while causing minimal damage to healthy cells. Chemotherapy is more effective and with fewer side effects than in the past.

In addition to traditional medicine, several forms of holistic therapies are also available. These therapies may include acupuncture and yoga. The objective of alternative therapies is not to treat the cancer per se, but rather to relieve some of the associated symptoms while improving the patient's quality of life.

Another treatment is called radiation therapy. There is no reason to fear this type of treatment, although some do. Radiation only affects the area on which it is being administered because it is highly targeted. It is very tolerable and side effects only effect the area being treated.

No matter the choice of treatment, it is very important to discuss all the options with your physician. Often times, a combination of treatments will be prescribed. An open dialog with your physician is also very important so that he or she can be made aware of any side effects which may require adjustments to the treatment.