Breast cancer treatment in India:
new weapons
There are four types of treatment are used
treatments for all patients with breast cancer.:
1.
surgery (the cancer is removed during
surgery)
2.
radiation therapy (using high doses of X-rays
to kill cancer cells)
3.
chemotherapy (using drugs to kill cancer
cells)
4.
Hormone therapy (using hormones to stop the
proliferation of cancer cells).
Biological therapy (using the immunological
defense system of the body to fight cancer) and transplantation of bone marrow
are at the stage of clinical trials.
Most patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer
ablation. Usually, some lymph nodes in the armpit are removed for microscopic
analysis to determine whether there is an attack by cancer cells.
I. Different types of
surgical operations are used:
Operation with breast conservation:
Lumpectomy or lumpectomy (sometimes called
wide excision or biopsy excisonnelle) is the removal of the breast tumor with
the surrounding tissue. It is usually followed by radiation to the breast
tissue remaining. Most doctors also remove some lymph nodes under the arm.
Partial or segmental mastectomy is the
removal of the breast tumor and a large part of the fabric which surrounds up
to half of the breast. Usually some axillary lymph nodes are removed. Followed
in most cases by radiotherapy.
Other types of surgery:
Total or simple mastectomy: is the removal of
the entire breast. Sometimes some axillary lymph nodes are removed.
Modified radical mastectomy: is the removal
of entire breast including the nipple and skin tissue, but the chest muscles
are left in place. Some axillary lymph nodes are removed to assess whether
there was spread of cancer. This is the most common operation.
Radical mastectomy (also called the Halsted
radical mastectomy) is removal of the entire breast, underlying pectoral
muscles and axillary lymph nodes. Operation restricted to cancer with spread to
the pectoral muscles.
II. Radiotherapy: is the use of X-rays at high energy to kill
cancer cells.
III. Chemotherapy: is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells.
Can be administered either by mouth or by intravenous injection or
intramuscular. This is called systemic treatment because the drugs enter the
bloodstream, travel through the body and can kill cancer cells outside the
breast area. The initial standard chemotherapy approved for the adjuvant
treatment of breast cancer was a combination of CMF: cyclophosphamide
(Cytoxan), methotrexate and 5-flurouracil. Progress appeared in the adjuvant
treatment of breast cancer with the introduction of AC therapy or a combination
of Adriamycin and Cytoxan. Taxol is another drug that can be used in the
treatment of breast cancer.
IV. Hormone treatment:
If the tests show that cancer cells have
receptors for estrogen and progesterone, a hormone treatment could be given.
Hormone treatment is used to change the mode of action of hormones on cancer
growth. This is done either using drugs or by removing the organs that produce
hormones such as the ovaries. Hormonal treatment with tamoxifen is given for a
period of 5 years in women with early breast cancer without lymph node
involvement. This treatment with tamoxifen or estrogens can act on cells of the
whole body and increase the risk of getting cancer of the uterus. A
gynecological examination should be performed annually and any vaginal bleeding
outside of menstruation should be reported to the attending physician.
If the doctor removes all the cancer that is
visible during surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormonal therapy may be
given after surgery to try to kill cells that may remain. Therapy given after
surgery where no cancerous cells can be seen is called adjuvant therapy.
The Fortis Cancer Institute
is a premier centre dedicated to providing comprehensive treatment and
promoting research in cancer care.
This is one of the few centre’s in India to offer endtoend cancer care
from diagnostics to rehabilitation. All cancer treatments – radiotherapy,
chemotherapy,
oncosurgery, breast
cancer chemotherapy reconstructive surgery...are housed in one world class facility. Fortis Cancer
Institute has also attracted top medical talent to offer these treatments.
These full time doctors, leaders in their field, are ably supported with
sophisticated equipment, trained technicians, physicists and nursing
professionals to offer the best cancer care.
Why Fortis?
- ·
Medical Quality
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