Effective Strategies in the Medical Management of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer diagnosis can be emotionally and physically challenging. However, advancements in technology and medical science have improved the survival rate and quality of life of many cancer patients. Depending on the stage of the cancer, breast cancer treatment in Navi Mumbai may involve surgery as a standalone procedure or combined with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.
In this post, we’ve explored some effective strategies in the medical management of breast cancer. Keep reading.
Early Detection and Diagnosis
The 5-year survival rate of women with breast cancer is 99% if it’s localized, i.e., if it hasn’t spread to the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes. The same is 86% for patients with regional breast cancer and 31% if it’s distant or has spread outside the breast tissue.
Screening Methods
Your health professional will conduct a thorough breast examination to detect any visible lumps that could be cancerous. They will also look at your breasts to check if your nipples and breasts look normal. Here’s what else can be used for detecting breast cancer.
1) Mammogram:
This is a type of breast X-ray that examines both breasts closely. If the mammogram shows anything unusual, another one will be ordered. This gives a detailed look at your breast tissues.
2) An Ultrasound:
Your healthcare provider may recommend a breast ultrasound, which can differentiate between a fluid-filled cyst and a cancerous mass. The doctors will decide whether further screening is needed depending on the test result.
3) MRI:
For an MRI, the patient is injected with the dye that gives a clear picture of both your breasts. This imaging test is used to detect how far the cancer has spread.
4) Biopsy:
A small sample of the breast tissues is used to detect cancerous growth.
Treatment Options
Your oncologist in Navi Mumbai might recommend the following treatment options:
a) Surgery
For most types of early-stage breast cancers, surgery is the most effective option. It’s possible to remove the tumor completely. This will prevent the likelihood of the cancer recurring. The surgery is called lumpectomy. If the tumor is large, a mastectomy (complete or partial removal of the breasts) might be needed.
b) Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapies
Chemotherapy can be given before surgery to shrink the tumor size, making it operable. It could be needed after surgery, as well. If cancer has spread beyond the breasts and has entered lymph nodes and nearby organs, chemotherapy, and radiation therapies followed by tumor removal are recommended.
c) Targeted Therapies
A targeted therapy attacks cancer cells by destroying the chemical mechanism in these cells. These are highly effective and have fewer side effects, as targeted therapies cause minimal damage to healthy cells. Most targeted therapies destroy the cancer cells that make extra HER2 (a protein responsible for the growth of cancer in your body).
d) Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy can be used for triple-negative breast cancer. The therapy signals your immune system to find and kill cancer cells. These treatment options are often used together to destroy cancer cells, slow their growth, and remove the mass from your breasts.