Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world and annually accounts for the fifth-highest number of cancer-related deaths. Each year, breast cancer affects approximately 265,000 people.
Surgery to remove the cancer is essential to early-stage breast cancer treatment. Chemotherapy for breast cancer is typically administered as a follow-up to stop the development of cancer. There are several other tests to identify patient subgroups where chemotherapy can be avoided, so not every patient with breast cancer needs to receive chemotherapy.
Breast Cancer Treatments:
Surgery:
A physician who focuses on surgically treating cancer is known as a surgical oncologist. During surgery, the tumor and some of the surrounding healthy tissues are removed. The nearby axillary lymph nodes, located under the arm, are also examined.
Generally, the smaller the tumor, the more surgical options a patient has. The following are some of the breast cancer surgery options:
Lumpectomy:
A lumpectomy is the removal of the tumor along with a small margin of healthy tissue that is cancer-free.
Mastectomy:
The surgical removal of the entire breast is known as a mastectomy.
Lymph node evaluation:
Sentinel lymph node biopsy and/or axillary lymph node dissection are two methods for evaluating lymph nodes.
A lumpectomy or partial mastectomy is usually followed by radiation therapy if the cancer is invasive. Additionally, a mastectomy may be advised, either with or without immediate reconstruction.
Radiation Therapy:
Radiation oncologists are medical professionals who specialize in administering radiation therapy as a cancer treatment. In radiation therapy, high-energy x-rays or other radiation are used to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy comes in a variety of forms:
External-beam radiation therapy:
The most popular form of radiation therapy, external-beam radiation therapy, delivers radiation from a machine outside the patient's body. This covers both full and partial breast radiotherapy, as well as accelerated breast radiotherapy, which can last a few days.
Intra-operative radiation therapy:
Radiation treatment is administered using a probe during surgery, which is known as intra-operative radiation therapy.
Brachytherapy:
The different kinds of medication therapies for breast cancer treatment include:
Chemotherapy for breast cancer
Hormonal therapy
Targeted therapy
Immunotherapy
A person may receive a single type of systemic therapy at a time, or several different systemic therapies administered simultaneously. They can also be administered as a component of a radiation therapy or surgical breast cancer treatment plan. Conclusion: 80% of cancers are curable if detected at an early stage. The best way to prevent breast cancer is by getting regular checkups and mammograms, which can catch any abnormalities early on when they're most likely treatable.