It depends on the stage of cancer.
For example: In cases of stage 1 breast cancer, It is possible to skip treatment options such as radiation and chemotherapy.
Otherwise, the vast majority of patients will require radiation and chemotherapy after surgery for completion of their cancer treatment.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a treatment option wherein certain drugs are used to kill cancer cells.
What do you mean by stage of cancer?
Stage means how far the disease has progressed. There are five stages of breast cancer. These are as follows:
Stage 0 breast cancer
Also called DCIS ( Ductal In Situ Carcinoma). This is the very initial stage of breast cancer. In this type of breast cancer, the cancerous cells are confined to their original place or have just started dividing. The cancer cells develop in the milk ducts, which are responsible for carrying milk from lobules to the nipple area.
Stage 1 breast cancer
In this type of breast cancer, the cancer cells are confined to the breast tissue only.
Stage 2 breast cancer
Cancer cells have expanded to nearby lymph nodes, also called Sentinel lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are structures, which has WBCS in them. These help in fighting off infections
Stage 3 breast cancer
In these types, the cancer has spread to multiple lymph nodes.
Stage 4 breast cancer
This is a type of breast cancer wherein the cancer cells have spread to other areas of the body from the breast region. This type is often the advanced form of cancer. It is also called metastatic breast cancer.