In 2020 alone, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer globally. 685,000 breast cancer patients died last year. Over the past five years, a whopping 7.8 million women were diagnosed, making it the most prevalent cancer in the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). In fact, it accounts for 14% of the cancers diagnosed among women. In India, breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer.
Although breast cancer can develop in any woman after puberty, it is more common among those in their 50s and 60s, which means the cancer risk increases with age. Timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial to increase the chances of survival. With the advancement of technology, several treatment options are now available that can cure breast cancer. One of the options is breast conservation surgery. To know about the surgery, Onlymyhealth spoke to Dr Mahesh Bandemegal, Surgical Oncology, HCG Cancer Hospital, Bengaluru. But before that, let us understand breast cancer a little better.
What Is Breast Cancer?
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As the name suggests breast cancer is the cancer of the breasts. The human body is made up of cells, some of which die with time and new ones develop in their place. When some of these cells do not die and continue to grow uncontrollably, these can turn cancerous. When such a thing happens in the breast, it is called breast cancer. While suffering from it, a woman experiences certain symptoms, which as per Dr Bandemegal include:
- A lump in the breast
- Nipple discharge, other than breast milk
- Change in the shape of the nipple and/or the breast
- Swelling under the arm
If you experience any of the above symptoms, you must consult a doctor immediately, who then examines the woman. A triple assessment is generally done, which includes:
- Physical examination
- Mammogram
- Needle biopsy
Once cancer is confirmed, the doctors do staging and molecular studies. Treatment is then started, which is multimodal in nature and encompasses surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc. It is decided following a multidisciplinary tumour discussion with the doctor and the patient.
What Is Breast Conservation Surgery?
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Standard surgical treatment for breast cancer is also called lumpectomy or a partial mastectomy.
- In this surgery, only the part of the breast that is affected by cancer is removed. This depends on the location and the size of the lump.
- Its aim includes removing the tumour with adequate margin, reducing scars, and ensuring the normal shape of the breast.
- In some cases, some of the lymph nodes under the arm are also removed by a procedure called sentinel node biopsy to find out if cancer has spread there. This is done to prevent unnecessary removal of multiple axillary lymph nodes, along with its associated complications that include swelling of arms.
- Several studies have found breast conservation surgery as well as the complete removal of breasts.
- It also helps prevent issues regarding body image, along with psychological impairment, and improves the overall quality of life.
Also read: What Is Metastatic Breast Cancer? Doctor Explains
Other Treatment Options For Breast Cancer
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Other than breast conservation surgery, there are other treatment options as well.
- In case the patient is ineligible for breast conservation surgery, then chemotherapy is given to reduce the size of tumour, and thus, make the patient eligible for breast preservation.
- Chemotherapy comes under systemic therapy, which also includes hormonal therapy and anti-HER2 therapy. These prevent microscopic disease and also improve the overall chance of survival.
- Then comes radiation therapy, which is generally carried out following breast-conserving surgery. It is done to eliminate the cancer cells that were not removed during the surgery.
So these are some of the ways breast cancer can be treated. However, early diagnosis and treatment are extremely crucial.
Also read: Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 7 Post Surgery Side Effects To Watch Out For
Breast Cancer Prevention Tips
Just like any other disease, when it comes to breast cancer, prevention is better than cure. Here are some ways to reduce your risk of getting breast cancer as recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC):
- If overweight or obese, lose weight and manage it at a healthy level.
- Work out regularly
- Either quit or limit your alcohol intake
- Breastfeed your child, if you can and if you aren’t advised otherwise
- Since heredity is a risk factor, if you have a family member who has or had this disease, then talk to a doctor to know what you can do to reduce your risk.
So as you saw breast cancer is highly prevalent both in India and worldwide. Thousands of women die of this disease every year. However, with technological advancements, many treatment options are available that can increase the chance of survival. One such option is breast conservation surgery. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are two of the other options. However, prevention is much better than cure. Hence, have a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and have overall, have a healthy lifestyle to steer clear of breast cancer.
(With inputs from Dr Mahesh Bandemegal, Surgical Oncology, HCG Cancer Hospital, Bengaluru)
Photo Credit: parashospitals.com