Breast Cancer Treatment
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a group of cancer cells (malignant tumor) that starts in the cells of the breast and invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.
Causes of Breast Cancer
The exact causes of breast cancer are largely unknown, but both environmental and genetic factors are involved. Specific mutations in genes called HER2, BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, and p53 have been linked to breast cancer; these mutations may be inherited or acquired. Mutations that are inherited often substantially increase a person’s risk for developing breast cancer.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Each type of breast cancer can cause a variety of symptoms, the most common symptom of breast cancer is the lump or mass in the breast and it is the first sign of a tumour.
Symptoms for the most common breast cancer include:
- New lump or mass in the breast.
- Sudden, unexplained change in the shape or size of the breast
- Bloody discharge from the nipple
- Swelling in all or part of the breast
- Changes in the skin of the breast
- Redness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
- Breast pain
- Nipple retraction (turning inward)
Mastectomy Surgery for Breast Cancer
Removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. This procedure includes the removal of cancer along with some of the breast tissue that surrounds the tumor and the lining over the chest muscles below the tumor.
Quadrantectomy Surgery for Breast Cancer
Removal of one-quarter of the breast (removal of one quarter or quadrant of the breast): This form of surgery is referred to as a segmental or partial mastectomy. In this surgery quarter of breast tissue is removed along with the muscles of the chest wall that lies within a 2-3 centimetre radius of a tumour.
Lumpectomy Surgery for Breast Cancer
Removal of a small part of the breast – Lumpectomy (Removal of the lump): This treatment is often done under the general anaesthesia. The surgeon makes a cut in the breast and removes the tumor along with a small rim of normal tissue that surrounds the tumor. After treating the tumor the surgeon then closes the incision with stitches, making the breast look like before surgery. It has been seen that in some cases more than one surgery is required to get cleaner margins.
Breast Conserving Surgery for breast Cancer
In this surgery we surgically remove the cancer in the breast without removing the complete Breast. This is a form of surgery that is done to remove the cancer in the breast but not the complete breast.
If the patient desires, then breast reconstruction surgery, a type of cosmetic surgery, may be performed to create an aesthetic appearance.
Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer Treatment
Radiotherapy uses controlled doses of radiation to kill cancer cells. It is generally given after surgery and chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. If you need radiotherapy, your treatment will begin about a month after your surgery or chemotherapy to give your body a chance to recover. You will probably have radiotherapy sessions three to five days a week, for three to six weeks. Each session will only last a few minutes.
Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer Treatment
It uses drugs to destroy the cancer cells. It is used when cancer cells have spread into other organs or tissues. As the drug circulates in the bloodstream, they kill both cancerous and non-cancerous cells.
Hormone Treatment for Breast Cancer
These types of cancer are known as hormone-receptor-positive cancers. Hormone therapy works by lowering the levels of hormones in your body or by stopping their effects. The type of hormone therapy you have will depend on the stage and grade of your cancer, which hormone it is sensitive to, your age, whether you have been through the menopause and what another type of treatment you are having. You will probably have hormone therapy after surgery and chemotherapy, but it is sometimes given before surgery to shrink tumors, making it easier to removes.
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