Breast Cancer Treatment

This pamphlet, written by the Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC), describes the historical treatment of breast cancer and provides criticism of the traditional approaches taken to treating breast cancer by Western medicine (which are invasive, mutilating, experimental, and risky). The pamphlet traces the development and use of the radical mastectomy, a procedure that removes the entire breast(s) and often lymph nodes and chest muscle, as the singular treatment for breast cancer for over 80 years. The pamphlet discusses some of the risks associated with reconstructive surgery and implantation following breast cancer and mastectomy. it also describes radiation and chemotherapy, two other common treatments for breast cancer. The pamphlet outlines some of the risks and complications involved in radiation and chemotherapy, and also defines and describes treatments including hormone manipulation, hyperthermia (heat therapy), and immunotherapy.