Stage 1 Breast Cancer Treatment Timeline: From Diagnosis to Recovery

Stage 1 breast cancer treatment timeline

The active treatment timeline for stage 1 breast cancer often varies, but these treatments can last around six months to a year, often involving a surgical procedure followed by adjuvant therapies such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Additionally, these can include up to 10 years of hormone therapy if the cancer is classified under hormone-receptor positive.

Diagnosis and initial Oncologists consultation

The treatment timeline generally begins when the doctor confirms the presence of cancer, usually after an imaging test such as a mammogram, ultrasound, or biopsy. This is a crucial time for a patient to get their questions answered and plan for the next steps.

Here’s what happens  to your treatment journey, 

Cancer confirmed: After the biopsy result comes, your medical team will give the patient an official cancer diagnosis. 

Oncologist consultation: You are suggested to meet an oncologist for your further treatment, possibly a breast cancer specialist, who is also a surgeon with surgical experience. They will discuss your treatment options, which often vary depending on whether the cancer is hormone-receptor positive, HER2 Positive, or triple- negative. 

Next Steps:

You may be referred to undergo genetic testing, especially if there’s a family history of breast cancer; then your oncology team will suggest a treatment path that is aligned to your specific type of cancer.

Surgery

The most common treatment used for stage 1 cancer is surgery to remove the tumor. There are two primary types of surgery for stage 1 cancer, including:

• Lumpectomy: In this procedure, a tumor is removed along with surrounding tissues. This is often recommended in patients if the tumor is small and localized.
• Mastectomy: In some cases, a complete removal of the breast is often recommended, especially if the tumor is in a location that makes the lumpectomy difficult to perform.

What happens:

Your surgical oncologist will be scheduled for a surgery, usually within a few weeks of diagnosis. You might also need to undergo a short hospital stay; it will be after your lumpectomy.

Next steps:

After the surgery, you may need to undergo a follow-up visit to check for any complications and confirm that the tumor was successfully removed.

Pathology report and further treatment discussion

After the surgical procedure, the tissue is often sent to a lab for a detailed analysis. The results of these tests will help to identify whether any additional treatments are needed or necessary for the patient.

What happens:

The pathology report often helps to determine if the cancer has clear margins, which means that there are no cancer cells left behind. These hormone receptor statuses include estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER2 status, which is a protein that can promote cancer growth.

If the patient has hormone- receptor positive or HER2 positive, your oncologist team might suggest further treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or hormone therapy.

Next Steps:

You might meet the oncologist to discuss your options, which are based on the pathology results.

If chemotherapy or radiation therapy is required, then your treatment plan will be updated accordingly.

Chemotherapy (If required)

For some cancer cases, the oncologist might suggest chemotherapy, especially if the cancer is aggressive such as HER2 positive or triple negative, or if there’s a risk of cancer recurrence.

What happens:

The chemo sessions usually begin a few weeks after the surgery, if recommended. It might involve a combination of drugs that is usually given in an intravenous or in a pill form.

In many cases, chemotherapy procedures for stage 1 cancer will last 4 to 6 months, it's often given in cycles. Where the treatment gets extended for a week or two, followed by a break for the patient 's to recover. 

Side effects of chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy often comes with potential side effects such as nausea, hair loss, fatigue and changes in the appetite. Modern medicine often offers several treatments to manage these symptoms. 

Radiation therapy

If you have undergone a lumpectomy and are at a higher risk of recurrence, then your oncologist might recommend radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells. The radiation is often given a few weeks after surgery and is usually for at least 5 to 6 weeks.

What happens:

Radiation therapy is typically delivered on a daily basis, or for several weeks. These treatments are quite painless in nature, but you may experience skin irritation, fatigue or changes in the breast tissues. 

Next steps:

These treatments are often followed by a few weeks of recovery before you assess your progress. 

Hormone therapy

An estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer, your healthcare provider might recommend you to get hormone therapy, including tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. These medications can block the hormone estrogen or lower its levels in the patient's body, often reducing the risk of recurrence. 

Here’s what happens after the treatment:

Hormone therapy typically lasts for 5 to 10 years, but your doctor might help you to determine the most appropriate duration for your specific health condition. 

All of these medications might come with side effects, including hot flashes and mood changes, but there are some benefits, like the chance of reducing the recurrence rates in patients.

Next Steps:

You will have a regular follow-up appointment to monitor your progress and manage the side effects. 

Recovery and follow-up

Once the cancer treatment is completed, you might enter the recovery phase. Get regular follow-ups with your oncologist to monitor the health, regularly perform screenings to check any risk of recurrence, and manage any ongoing symptoms of the treatment. 

What happens:

You may need to visit your oncologist for some physical examinations, imaging tests like mammograms, and possibly blood tests. It’s important to discuss any lingering side effects from the treatments and how to manage them.

Next steps ahead:

Many cancer survivors might experience emotional and physical changes during the recovery. If needed, get professional therapy and join any support groups; that will be helpful for your healing journey.  

Additionally, always try to lead a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet and physical exercise, which can also support your ongoing recovery journey.