Breast cancer is a common problem that women are facing nowadays. It is the second most common cancer worldwide, skin cancer being the most common one. The occurrence of breast cancer has shown an incremental rise in recent years, and it is expected to continue rising owing to the ageing population. Breast cancer can occur in males, but the incidence is very low.
The presence of any of the following conditions or criteria increases your chance of developing breast cancer:
Like many other malignancies, if we wait for significant symptoms to arise, the disease may already have advanced to a dangerous level. It is, therefore, important for females to stay acquainted and vigilant at all times and perform a self-breast exam every month or so.
Symptoms suggesting breast cancer:
If you suspect experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above while also having a risk factor for breast cancer, you should visit a Breast Cancer Centre immediately and undergo the necessary screening and other laboratory tests. Remember that "Prevention is better than cure."
Breast cancer staging according to TNM (tumour-node-metastasis) or UICC (Union Internationale Contre le Cancer) criteria was used more often before. Still, as we gain more knowledge of the biological variables that affect breast cancer prognosis, patients are classified according to the treatment they require.
Because the prognosis of breast cancer is closely related to the stage at diagnosis, a population screening programme that detects tumours before they come to the patients’ notice reduces mortality from breast cancer. It has been found that breast cancer screening by mammography in women above the age of 50 will reduce cause-specific mortality by up to 30 per cent. Patients are encouraged to do a self-examination of the breasts every month and undergo a clinical breast examination every 1-3 years after 25 years of age. Specific imaging screening guidelines:
There are no specific guidelines for lactating patients or patients with breast augmented surgery.
Early age of first pregnancy, breastfeeding, and multiparity are protective factors Breast Cancer. This is due to a reduction in the overall number of ovulatory cycles, thereby reducing the duration of oestrogens action on the breast tissue
We provide the best Breast Cancer treatment in Navi Mumbai. We understand that the treatment of breast diseases, especially Breast Cancer, needs good doctor-patient communication. Patients are often anxious, and it is important to consider their decisions and inputs while determining the best treatment modality suited to their condition. In our Breast Cancer Centre, the care of Breast Cancer patients is undertaken as a joint venture between the surgeon, medical oncologist, radiotherapist and allied health professionals such as staff nurse specialists. This approach proves beneficial to alleviate the patient’s anxiety and ensure a better outcome. The goal of the Breast Cancer treatment in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai is to limit its spread as little as possible — both locally and distant metastatic spread. Early breast cancer is usually treated with surgery with or without radiotherapy. If your breast cancer has spread to the adjacent lymph nodes, systemic therapy such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy is added. On the other hand, locally advanced or metastatic disease is locally treated by systemic therapy to palate symptoms, with surgery playing a much smaller role.
Surgery holds a major role in the management of Breast Cancer. Breast surgeries of many types are performed in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Navi Mumbai — such as segmental mastectomy, lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, wide local excision, and tylectomy. Depending upon the stage of Breast Cancer and associated factors, the healthcare team decides the breast surgery modality for the patient.
According to statistics, breast cancer patients have an increased risk of recurrence and dissemination, so they need to be followed up for life. Yearly or two-yearly mammography of the treated and contralateral breast is recommended. Other than mammography, repeated measurements of tumour markers and other diagnostic imaging tests have no role.