Advanced treatments help you fight luminal B breast cancer
Doctors put breast cancer into different categories based on how the tumors react to hormones called estrogen and progesterone, as well as if they have the HER2 gene. Estrogen and progesterone can help cancers grow. In addition, the HER2 gene causes cells to have too much HER2 protein, which also makes cancer grow.
Luminal B breast cancer is a type of breast cancer that responds to the hormone estrogen in addition to having the HER2 gene (called HER2 positive). Due to this combination, luminal B breast cancer can grow very fast and is more likely to spread compared to other types of breast cancers.
Fortunately, new treatments offer women a targeted, effective way to kill cancer cells and keep them from coming back.
To schedule an appointment with a breast cancer specialist at Main Line Health, call 1.866.CALL.MLH (225.5654) or use our secure online appointment request form.
Targeted therapies take aim at luminal B cancers
Along with traditional cancer treatments such as surgery to remove cancer cells, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, your doctor may recommend that you have targeted therapy, sometimes called immunotherapy, biotherapy or monoclonal antibody therapy.
Targeted therapies give you man-made antibodies, which are special immune system cells, to attack HER2 proteins that cause cancer to grow. Without these proteins, cancer cells stop growing and spreading. You can take targeted therapy through an IV or as a pill. Though targeted therapy does have side effects, they are often less severe than chemotherapy side effects.
Hormone therapy keeps luminal B breast cancer at bay
Luminal B breast cancer also reacts well to hormone therapy. For hormone therapy, you take a pill each day that keeps your breast cells from absorbing hormones. Hormone therapy can help keep cancer from growing back years after surgery. After you've completed other treatments, you'll take hormone therapy for five to ten years.
