Treatment Options for Breast Cancer

We are living in the era of early detection. However, the risk of developing breast cancer is higher than ever before. But what happens when you receive a diagnosis? What do you do to find the right treatment for yourself? The most important factor in determining your treatment is how far cancer has spread to other parts of the body. It depends on your age, general health, the location of the tumour (in one or both breasts), whether the tumour is hormone-receptor-positive or negative (that means if it has receptors that can respond to hormones like estrogen), whether you have axillary lymph node involvement (spread of cancer in lymph nodes), and other factors. It is important to seek the opinion of the best breast cancer specialist in Pune and get started with the treatment without delay. Here are the most successful treatment options for Breast Cancer.

Treatment Options for Breast Cancer

• Surgery

Breast cancer surgery is a procedure to remove cancerous cells from the breast. The choice of the specific type of surgery, mastectomy or lumpectomy, depends on a number of factors such as size, location of the tumour, whether there are any other breast abnormalities, age and condition of the patient.  In a mastectomy, all breasts tissues are removed. Breast reconstruction surgery can be done to fix the shape and size of the chest following mastectomy. In a lumpectomy, only one part of the breast is removed. Lumpectomies can be done in many different ways: a segmental (partial) removal of tissue around the tumour; partial removal with radiation therapy; and simple excision with or without radiation therapy. Segmental removal is not always the best option because it would leave some cancer cells in the remaining breast tissues. In some cases, an individual may have to get radiation therapy or chemotherapy to get rid of any remaining cells that were left behind after surgery. Consult the best breast cancer specialist in Pune because there are many factors that have an impact on your choice of treatment.

• Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumours. It is a form of treatment for cancer that uses anti-cancer drugs to cure breast cancer. Chemotherapy often involves taking one or more medicines that damage the dividing cancer cells (in the M phase), which are then replaced with healthy cells. Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy is one that is given before surgery to shrink the tumour and reduce the size of the tumour which can be operated on. This type of chemotherapy may also be called primary systemic breast cancer chemotherapy or primary systemic therapy (PSCT). Adjuvant Chemotherapy is one that is given after surgery to kill any of the remaining cancer cells which could have been left behind during surgery and may not show up until later (i.e. to prevent recurrence of cancer).

• Hormone Therapy 

Hormone therapy can be helpful in the treatment of breast cancer. It may also be used after breast cancer surgery to lower the risk of recurrence. Estrogen and progesterone are female hormones that regulate vital body functions. Estrogen is involved in the development and growth of breast tissue which may lead to the development of cancer cells. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) block the effects of estrogen on these cells. Aromatase Inhibitors (AI) work by blocking estrogen production or reducing its levels in menopausal women or postmenopausal women who no longer produce enough estrogen because this hormone is important for maintaining bone health and vaginal lubrication, causing a decrease in bone density and a condition known as atrophic vaginitis, respectively. SERMs and AI can be a great help!

• Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy is the therapy that uses radiation to kill cancer cells. The cells are destroyed or slowed down in growth by exposing them to high-energy rays. It is given to patients who have cancer in the breast area or nearby lymph nodes. It can be used when surgery cannot remove all the cancerous tissue, when surgery has removed all but a small amount of cancerous tissue, or when the tumour cannot be operated on because it is too close to important organs or body parts. Doctors may recommend radiation therapy for patients with early-stage breast cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes but not too far away from the breast area. The radiation therapy is given in a set of treatments; the length of treatment varies depending on the type and stage of your cancer.

Breast cancer is a serious disease that can be life-threatening if left untreated. However, it is also one of the most treatable cancers with the right treatment option. It is important to consult the best breast cancer specialist in Pune to find out which treatment suits you best. You must understand that breast cancer is too complex to just rely on one treatment option. At Galaxy Care Hospital, one of the leading cancer hospitals in Pune, India, we have treated many patients with breast cancer. Our oncologists’ success rate demonstrates our expertise in treating patients with this kind of cancer.  We can help you get rid of your breast cancer. Book your appointment with the best oncologists in Pune today!