“Varied Treatments Needed for Breast Cancer”
Breast cancer is a multi-faceted disease, with different types of cancer cells making up the cancerous tissue. As a result, successfully treating breast cancer requires different types of treatments to eliminate or control the cancerous cells. Breast cancer develops from the proliferation of cells in normal breast tissue that change and differentiate from each other as they multiply and form a tumor. As the tumor grows, new and different breast cancer cells form, creating a mix of cell types that become more complex over time. This heterogeneity of cell types is why two different patients with breast cancer can have completely different treatment plans.
The breast cancer treatment plan should be personalized according to the specific type, size, stage, and grade of the cancer, as well as whether the cancer cells are sensitive to hormones. In addition, the patient’s overall health and personal preferences should be taken into account. Recent years have seen the development of many personalized treatment options for breast cancer, giving patients a wider range of choices.
It is important to have a team of experts, such as a breast surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, plastic surgeon, and genetic counselor, working together to plan and apply the most appropriate treatment for each patient. The breast surgeon usually takes on the responsibility of coordinating and guiding the patient through the treatment process.
The initial treatment for breast cancer usually involves surgical treatment. The patient and the breast surgeon will decide on the most suitable surgical option, which can include complete removal of the breast (mastectomy) or breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) followed by radiation therapy.
Lumpectomy involves removal of the cancer mass and a small amount of surrounding healthy breast tissue, while mastectomy involves the removal of all breast tissue. Newer techniques such as skin-sparing mastectomy and nipple-sparing mastectomy can be used in selected cases to improve the appearance of the breast and allow for reconstructive treatments.
During both lumpectomy and mastectomy, a sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection is performed to determine whether the cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes. If the cancer is not found in the sentinel lymph nodes, there is little chance of finding cancer in the remaining lymph nodes, and there is no need to remove the other lymph nodes. If cancer is detected in the sentinel lymph nodes, it will likely be necessary to remove the other lymph nodes in the armpit.
In conclusion, successfully treating breast cancer requires a personalized treatment plan that takes into account the specific type, size, stage, and grade of the cancer, as well as the patient’s overall health and personal preferences. A team of experts can work together to guide the patient through the treatment process and achieve the best possible outcome.
