Medical Management of Breast cancer:
The medical management of breast cancer depends on the stage and type of cancer, as well as the patient’s overall health and personal preferences. The main treatment options for breast cancer include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Surgery: Surgery is the most common treatment for breast cancer and typically involves removing the cancerous tumour and some surrounding tissue. The most common surgical procedures for breast cancer are:
- Lumpectomy: This procedure involves removing the tumour and a small amount of surrounding tissue.
- Mastectomy: This procedure involves removing the entire breast. Depending on the case, some lymph nodes may also be removed.
Radiation therapy: This treatment uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. It may be used after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer returning, or it may be used as the primary treatment for early-stage cancers that cannot be removed surgically.
Chemotherapy: This treatment uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It is typically used in cases where cancer has spread to other parts of the body, or if cancer has a high risk of returning after surgery.
Hormone therapy: This treatment is used to block the effects of hormones on cancer cells. It is typically used in cases of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, which means that the cancer cells have receptors for hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
Targeted therapy: This treatment targets specific molecules or pathways in cancer cells that allow them to grow and survive. It’s used in cases of HER2-positive breast cancer, which means that the cancer cells have too many copies of the HER2 gene.
Immunotherapy: This treatment helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. It’s used in cases of advanced and metastatic cancer.
It’s worth noting that the best treatment plan will depend on the patient’s specific case and will be determined by a team of specialists such as oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, pathologists and other specialists.
