Approach To Breast Cancer / Lump And Treatment For Breast Cancer
By Dr. Piyusha Kulshrestha in Cancer Surgical Oncology
Oct 31, 2017
Approach To Breast Cancer / Lump And Treatment For Breast Cancer
Introduction
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer affecting women globally. It develops in the breast tissues and presents symptoms such as lump formation, changes in breast shape or size, nipple discharge, red patches around the breast skin, and skin dimpling. Other symptoms include bone pain and swollen lymph nodes.
Approach to Breast Cancer / Lump
Regular clinical and self-examinations are crucial for early detection. While mammography is commonly used for initial detection, further evaluation using ultrasonography helps determine if a lump is cystic or solid. Additional diagnostic methods include:
- MRI of the breast
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA)
- Breast biopsy for final diagnosis
Treatment of Breast Cancer (Stages I-III)
The treatment method depends on the cancer stage, patient’s personal preferences, and other cancer-related factors such as hormone receptor status (ER-positive or PR-positive), HER2 protein levels, cell growth rate (grade or Ki-67), overall health, and menopausal status.
Surgery
Surgery is the primary treatment for breast cancer, with options including breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy. Nearby lymph nodes may also be checked using sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Breast reconstruction can be performed simultaneously with cancer removal surgery.
Radiation Therapy
Following BCS, radiation therapy is often administered to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. Women over 70 may opt for BCS without radiation if:
- The tumor was 2 cm or smaller and completely removed.
- No lymph nodes contain cancer cells.
- The cancer is ER-positive or PR-positive and hormone therapy is given.
Stages of Breast Cancer
- Stage I: Small tumors, not spread to lymph nodes or just a tiny area in the sentinel lymph node.
- Stage II: Larger tumors, spread to a few nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage III: Tumors have grown into nearby tissues and spread to many lymph nodes. Most patients receive some form of drug therapy, including hormone therapy (tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors) and HER2-targeted drugs (trastuzumab, pertuzumab).
Targeted Breast Cancer Therapy
Targeted therapies focus on specific cancer cell characteristics, such as growth-promoting proteins, and are less harmful than chemotherapy. Some targeted therapies act like antibodies from the immune system and are called immune-targeted therapies. Pregnant women should avoid targeted therapies.
Common Targeted Therapies
- Afinitor (everolimus): An mTOR inhibitor that stops receptor-positive cancer cells from getting energy.
- Avastin (bevacizumab): Blocks blood vessel growth needed by cancer cells.
- Herceptin (trastuzumab): Targets HER2-positive cancers by blocking growth signals.
- Ibrance (palbociclib): A CDK4/6 inhibitor that stops cancer cell division.
- Kadcyla (T-DM1 or ado-trastuzumab emtansine): A combination of Herceptin and chemotherapy medicine emtansine.
About Us
Metro Group of Hospitals offers a dedicated 155-bed facility, Metro Hospital and Cancer Institute, in Preet Vihar, New Delhi, specializing in cancer treatment. The hospital features a highly experienced team of medical, surgical, radiation, and gynae oncologists, utilizing the most advanced technology for comprehensive cancer care.
For more details or appointments, call +91 844 766 6333 or email info@metrohospitals.com.
