The stage of breast cancer is a determining factor for the type of treatment to be used. Breast cancer treatment in the early stage can help you recover completely and live longer. However, if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body then the treatment options vary that include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and hormone therapy.
Variable
Abnormal growth of cells in the breast gives rise to breast cancer. The cells accumulate into a mass that can be felt as lumps when pressing against the breast or can be seen on X-rays. In most cases, the tumours that grow are malignant and may invade other parts of the body if not treated on time. Generally, women are the victims of breast cancer, but men can get them too.
The source of breast cancer varies, while some start in the milk ducts that supply milk to the nipples, others take place in glands that help to produce breast milk. It should be noted that not all breast tumours are malignant. If you find any of the following symptoms of breast cancer, refer to a breast cancer oncologist right away:
What causes breast cancer?
Various reasons like age, genetic factors, family history of breast, dense breast tissues, obesity, height (taller women are more susceptible), high estrogen exposure, excessive alcohol consumption, higher radiation exposure, etc., cause breast cancer.
Treatment of breast cancer is done by determining the stage of the cancer.
Stage 0- This is the primary stage and involves treatment for non-invasive tumours.
Stage I- This is the first stage where tumours are relatively smaller and have not invaded the lymph nodes, or only a tiny area inflicted with cancer has reached the first lymph node.
Stage II- Larger than stage I, the cancer has spread to some of the lymph nodes.
Stage III- In this, the cancer has spread to many lymph nodes and the tumour has grown larger beneath the breast skin.
Stage IV- This is the advanced stage that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body. Stage IV cancer is treated with systematic therapies.
The treatment option for breast cancer is selected based upon the stage and type of cancer. Surgery is usually performed to remove tumours in the breast. Sometimes, surgeries are combined with other treatments like chemotherapy, hormone therapy or other treatments to treat the cancer.
An earlier stage of breast cancer is treated with surgery or radiation therapy or a combination of the both. The treatment aims at killing cancerous cells without affecting the other parts of the body.
Depending upon the stage of your breast cancer, doctors may administer systematic therapies that include chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted therapy. The treatment is called systematic, because it has the ability to reach any part of the body and kill cancer cells.
Before your oncologist decides any specific treatment for your breast cancer, there are certain preparations to be taken.
Having the right preparations before a breast cancer treatment will help improve your well-being and sense of confidence. These are the preparations before chemotherapy:
Preparations before breast cancer surgery:
There are two types of breast cancer surgery. Depending upon the type of cancer, the stage of cancer, the patient’s choice, your oncologist will decide which surgical procedure is the right option. Breast conserving surgery helps remove cancer tissues and lymph nodes, conserving a greater part of the breast, while Masectomy allows removing the entire breast.
During the procedure:
Barring complications, a breast cancer surgery usually takes 3-4 weeks to heal. If lymph nodes were removed during the procedure, the healing time may take much longer. Sometimes, an immediate breast reconstruction following a Masectomy helps to restore the appearance of your breast.
The recovery time of breast cancer treatment may vary from person to person. Immediately after your operation or a chemotherapy procedure, doctors will keep a close watch to check how you are dealing with post operation trauma.
During the follow-up visits, you require to go through various exams and laboratory tests or imaging tests, enabling doctor to look for signs of cancer.
Having a breast cancer surgery and getting a part or the whole breast removed can be taxing on your mind and appearance. It may take some time to get over the situation and so you may need to visit a psychologist to overcome your trauma. You are generally given a mammogram six months after a breast-conserving surgery. Other tests like pelvic exams and bone tests are done.
A series of follow-up care is required to check for recurrence of cancer. Through examinations and repeated check-ups, it help you prevent the disease.