Breast Cancer Treatment

Efficient and effective treatment for Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a disease where abnormal cells in breast tissue grow out of control, forming tumors that can spread. If left unchecked, the tumours can spread throughout the body and become fatal. Early detection and treatment significantly improve outcomes. Breast cancer often starts in the milk ducts or milk-producing lobules, and can spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, or other parts of the body.

Common symptoms of breast cancer include:

• A new lump in the breast or underarm
• Change in the size, shape, or appearance of the breast
• Pain in the breast or nipple
• Nipple discharge (other than breast milk), including blood
• Swelling or thickening of part of the breast
• Redness or flaky skin on the breast or nipple

Types of Breast Cancer

There are several types of breast cancer, with the most common being:

• Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS): This is a non-invasive form of breast cancer where abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct but have not spread outside the duct.
• Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC): This is the most common form of breast cancer, where cancer cells spread to the surrounding breast tissue outside the duct.
• Triple-negative Breast Cancer: This is a subtype of breast cancer that lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, making it more challenging to treat.
• HER2-positive Breast Cancer: This type of breast cancer makes too much of a protein called HER2, which can make the cancer grow faster.
• Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS): This is a type of breast cancer that starts in the milk-producing glands of the breast and does not spread to nearby tissues.

Types of Breast Cancer Treatment

To treat breast cancer, doctors often perform surgery. The types include:

• Lumpectomy: This surgery involves removing the tumour along with a small margin of surrounding healthy breast tissue. It aims to preserve the breast as much as possible.
• Modified Radical Mastectomy: This procedure involves removing the entire breast that contains the tumour, as well as some of the lymph nodes under the arm. The chest muscles are usually left intact.
• Breast Conservation Surgery/ Oncoplasty: This surgery removes the tumour and a small amount of surrounding tissue, preserving the rest of the breast. Sometimes, cosmetic techniques are used to reshape the breast.
• Mastectomy with reconstruction: This involves removing the entire breast that contains the tumour and reconstructing the breast using implants or tissue from another part of the body.
• Reconstructive Surgery: This is a separate surgery performed after mastectomy to rebuild the shape of the breast. It can be done using implants or tissue from another part of the body.

Post surgery, patients might need more treatments, such as:

• Chemotherapy: This treatment uses powerful medications to kill cancer cells or stop their growth. It is often given in cycles, with rest periods in between to allow the body to recover.
• Hormone therapy: This treatment is used for hormone-sensitive cancers, like some breast and prostate cancers. It works by blocking hormones or lowering their levels to slow or stop cancer growth.
• Radiation therapy: This treatment uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells. It is targeted to the specific area where the cancer is located and is often used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.
• CCRT (Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy): This is a combination treatment where chemotherapy and radiation therapy are given at the same time. It is often used to make radiation therapy more effective at killing cancer cells. 

 

Breast Cancer Treatment are done with great precision and advanced technologies at Health Routes Global Partner Centres. 

• Breast Cancer Surgery Duration: 1-3 hours for lumpectomy and 2-6 hours for mastectomy
• Average Length of Stay in Hospital: Lumpectomy: 0-2 days, Mastectomy: 1-3 days, Breast Reconstruction: 1-3 days
• Post Discharge Recovery Stay in Hotel/Home in India: 2-3 weeks
• Resume Normal Activities: After 5-6 weeks
• Recurrence of Pain:  Less than 20%
• Surgery Risk Category: Moderate