Everything You Need To Know About Breast Cancer Treatment Options
If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer recently, then it's important for you to know that there are multiple treatment options available these days. Most of these are dependent on the age of the patient and the stage of cancer. And for many of the patients, your oncologist may consider breast cancer treatment planning with a combination of two or more methods. Here we have discussed the same with our eminent oncologist. Continue reading to know more.
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What are the treatment options available for breast cancer?
The two main goals of breast cancer treatment are to get rid of as much cancer as feasible while also preventing tumors from returning.
The following are the therapy options:
- Surgical treatment for breast cancer-The affected breast tissues are removed during this procedure. If lymph nodes are not affected, then the surgery can spare those. A nipple-sparing mastectomy can also be performed, preserving the nipple and areolar complex. Implants or the patient's own tissue, which is usually removed from the lower abdomen, can be used for breast reconstruction after surgery.
- Radiation therapy- as per radiologists, the therapy can be administered 5 days a week over the duration of 5-7 weeks.
Radiation treatment is a sort of targeted therapy that uses high-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells and stop them from spreading. This treatment is typically suggested in the early stages of breast cancer and can reduce the chance of cancer recurrence.
It helps to shrink the cancer mass before surgery.
This can often be done as adjuvant therapy along with other treatment modalities.
- Chemotherapy-Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that employs the use of medications to kill cancer cells all over the body. It's usually given intravenously or orally as pills, but it's sometimes injected directly into the spinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord on rare occasions.
Chemotherapy is not required for everyone who develops breast cancer. It's usually prescribed either before or after surgery to decrease a tumor and make it easier to remove or to eliminate any leftover cancer cells.
- Targeted therapy- this acts in a similar way to chemotherapy.
Targeted therapy medications are designed to attack specific cancer cells while causing the least amount of harm to healthy cells, and they have fewer side effects than chemotherapy drugs.
- Hormonal therapy- if your breast cancer is hormone receptor-positive, then this treatment option might be effective for you. Cancer cells grow by attaching themselves to hormones like estrogen and progesterone.
Hormonal therapy comes in a variety of forms, but the majority of them function by adjusting estrogen levels and blocking estrogen from attaching to cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy-Immunotherapy, also known as biological therapy, is a cancer treatment that boosts the patient's immune system, allowing it to better fight cancer.
What are the things you need to consider while making treatment choices?
The strategy for your cancer care must be agreed upon by both you and your doctor.
It's entirely up to you whether or not you want to pursue a recommended treatment, especially if you have a variety of treatment options.
Pay attention to your doctor while also ensuring that your doctor is paying attention to you also. It's important to communicate with your doctor about your treatment priorities and preferences, whether it's quality of life, pain control, or being as aggressive as possible.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment option. Take some time to consider your doctor's advice. So that you can take an informed decision along with your oncologist.
Can you consider alternative methods along with the conventional one?
You might hear of alternative or complementary cancer treatment options that your doctor hasn't discussed.
Vitamins, herbs, and specific diets, as well as acupuncture and massage, to name a few, are examples of these treatments.
Treatments that can be done in addition to your usual medical care are referred to as complementary approaches.
Although some of these methods may be useful in alleviating symptoms or making you feel better, many have not been scientifically proven to be effective. Some of them may even be harmful, so discuss with your doctor before trying such alternative options.
Make sure to discuss any method you're considering with your cancer care team.
Can palliative care be helpful for breast cancer?
Cancer patients, regardless of their stage of cancer, require support and knowledge about their ailment. You can obtain supportive care to help with pain or other symptoms whether you're thinking about treatment, undergoing therapy, or not getting treatment at all.
It's important to communicate with your cancer care team so you can understand your diagnosis, suggested treatments, and ways to improve your quality of life.
Why should you consider getting cancer treatment in India?
India is the most favored place for cancer treatment operations for a few major reasons. And if you are searching for the best cancer hospital in India, we will help you out to find the same.
- India's cutting-edge techniques,
- Advanced medical diagnostic equipment
- Cancer research studies
- Successful clinical trials
- medical skills, and
- breast cancer treatment costs in India are among the best in the world, as our patients need affordable and quality outcomes.
All these have significantly increased the success rate of immunotherapy for cancer treatment in India.
Conclusion-By simply packing their medical journey to India, cancer treatment can substantially benefit the patient. We also offer a comprehensive range of counseling for coping with emotional challenges to our international patients.
How can we help in the treatment?
If you are in search of a cancer treatment hospital in India, we will serve as your guide throughout your treatment and will be physically present with you even before your treatment begins. The following will be provided to you:
- Opinions of expert physicians and surgeons
- Transparent communication
- Coordinated care
- Prior appointment with specialists
- Assistance in hospital formalities
- 24*7 availability
- Arrangement for travel
- Assistance for accommodation and healthy recovery
- Assistance in emergencies
We are dedicated to offering the highest quality health care to our patients. We have a team of highly qualified and devoted health professionals that will be by your side from the beginning of your journey.