Breast Cancer
Breast
cancer starts to develop when the healthy cells in the breast tissue gets
affected with cancer and start to grow at an abnormal rate. This uncontrolled
growth by the cells in the breast tissue cause lumps to form in, or around, the
breast which indicate towards the presence of breast cancer.
Types of Breast cancer
Mostly,
the cancer cells are formed in the ducts (ductal carcinoma) or the lobes
(lobular carcinoma). These are of several types, such as:
Ductal carcinoma – In this type of
breast cancer the cancerous cells are seen in the lining of the milk ducts and
are the most common forms of breast cancer. These are further sub-divided into
DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) which is located only in the duct and invasive
(infiltrating) ductal carcinoma which is cancer that has spread outside the
milk ducts to the surrounding tissue.
Lobular carcinoma – In this type of
cancer the cancerous cells are seen in the lobules. This form of breast cancer
is sub-divided into LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ) which is located only in
the lobules.
Metaplastic,
medullary, mucinous, tubular, papillary breast cancer, inflammatory breast
cancer and Paget’s disease are some of the rarer forms of breast cancer.
Breast Cancer treatment
After
the initial diagnosis has confirmed the presence, and the type, of breast
cancer the doctor/oncologist will be able to determine the best course of
treatment for your case of breast cancer depending on certain factors, such as:
· Your age
· Overall health status
· Everyday activity level
· Underlying medical conditions (if any)
· Stage of the tumor
· The type of breast cancer (tumor)
· Your menopausal status
· Your age
· Overall health status
· Everyday activity level
· Underlying medical conditions (if any)
· Stage of the tumor
· The type of breast cancer (tumor)
· Your menopausal status
These
are the various types of breast cancer treatment methods:
Surgery:
Surgery is used to remove the tumor in the breast tissue as well as some of the surrounding tissue in order to prevent it from recurring. Surgery may also be performed to examine the nearby axillary lymph nodes as well as the underarm lymph nodes.
The surgical removal of the tumor involves two types of different surgeries:
· Lumpectomy – This surgery involves removal of the tumor completely along with a portion of the surrounding healthy tissue. Most of the breast tissue remains intact after this surgery. For DCIS and invasive forms of breast cancer the oncologist will likely suggest radiation therapy to the remaining breast tissue in order to prevent the risk of recurrence. This surgery is also known as ‘breast-conserving surgery’, partial mastectomy, segmental mastectomy or quadrantectomy.
· Mastectomy – This surgery involves removal of the entire breast tissue. This is performed in several ways which include surgeries that will help retain skin and nipple after a mastectomy procedure.
Lymph Node removal and analysis:
This surgery is required to check for cancer cells that could have spread to the axillary lymph node. This is necessary to avoid the risk of the cancer from recurring at a later point in time.
Breast Reconstructive surgery:
Often, after a mastectomy, a woman might likely to want to undergo a breast reconstructive surgery for aesthetic and other purposes. This surgery requires using the patient’s own skin as graft to create skin tissue for the breast or to use breast implants in order to regain the lost of volume in the breast. A breast reconstructive surgery may be performed at the time of the mastectomy or could be performed later as a separate procedure.
Radiation therapy:
Radiation therapy uses high doses of energy beams to target the cancerous cells and destroy them. This treatment may be performed as an ‘external-beam radiation therapy’ using an external device to focus the beam of energy on the cancerous cells, or it could be performed using ‘intra-operative radiation’ which involves using a probe that is inserted in the body to place radioactive material near the tumor which causes it to kill the cancer cells.
Surgery is used to remove the tumor in the breast tissue as well as some of the surrounding tissue in order to prevent it from recurring. Surgery may also be performed to examine the nearby axillary lymph nodes as well as the underarm lymph nodes.
The surgical removal of the tumor involves two types of different surgeries:
· Lumpectomy – This surgery involves removal of the tumor completely along with a portion of the surrounding healthy tissue. Most of the breast tissue remains intact after this surgery. For DCIS and invasive forms of breast cancer the oncologist will likely suggest radiation therapy to the remaining breast tissue in order to prevent the risk of recurrence. This surgery is also known as ‘breast-conserving surgery’, partial mastectomy, segmental mastectomy or quadrantectomy.
· Mastectomy – This surgery involves removal of the entire breast tissue. This is performed in several ways which include surgeries that will help retain skin and nipple after a mastectomy procedure.
Lymph Node removal and analysis:
This surgery is required to check for cancer cells that could have spread to the axillary lymph node. This is necessary to avoid the risk of the cancer from recurring at a later point in time.
Breast Reconstructive surgery:
Often, after a mastectomy, a woman might likely to want to undergo a breast reconstructive surgery for aesthetic and other purposes. This surgery requires using the patient’s own skin as graft to create skin tissue for the breast or to use breast implants in order to regain the lost of volume in the breast. A breast reconstructive surgery may be performed at the time of the mastectomy or could be performed later as a separate procedure.
Radiation therapy:
Radiation therapy uses high doses of energy beams to target the cancerous cells and destroy them. This treatment may be performed as an ‘external-beam radiation therapy’ using an external device to focus the beam of energy on the cancerous cells, or it could be performed using ‘intra-operative radiation’ which involves using a probe that is inserted in the body to place radioactive material near the tumor which causes it to kill the cancer cells.
Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment in India
India
is now being known worldwide as the choice destination to get affordable and high-quality breast cancer treatment. With its large network of global-class
cancer-specialty hospitals and clinics across major cities such as Delhi,
Kolkata, Nagpure, Goa, Chennai, Mumbai, etc, it has the most modern and high-tech medical
equipments that help the highly-experienced oncologists and cancer specialists
to perform successful and efficient cancer treatments.
