Overview
Breast cancer is one of the leading cancers that affect women. According to WHO, nearly 2.3 million women had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Most types of breast cancers can be treated effectively if diagnosed early. This makes breast cancer awareness and access to prompt treatment imperative for optimizing the chances of survival and remission.
Max Hospital is one of the best hospitals for breast cancer treatment in India. The doctors are internationally renowned and highly experienced. The technology and treatment protocols offered are among the best in the world.
Types of Breast Cancer
There are several different types of breast cancer. Breast cancer can, in general, be classified depending on the site of origin, such as ducts (ductal), lobules (lobular), connective tissue, etc. They can also be classified according to the genetic makeup of the cancer cells or the hormones that have caused cancer.
Some of the common types of breast cancer include:
- Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)
- Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
- Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
- Inflammatory breast cancer
- Triple-negative breast cancer
- Paget's disease
- HER2 status
- Angiosarcoma
- Phyllodes tumors
- Metastatic breast cancer
- Breast cancer in men
Getting a proper diagnosis and determination of the type and stage from Max Hospital will determine the best course of breast cancer treatment in India.
Stages of Breast Cancer
Doctors use the TNM system to accurately stage breast cancer.
T - Tissue. What is the size of the malignant tumor, and has it invaded nearby tissue?
N - Node. If there is evidence of cancer in the lymph nodes?
M - Metastasis. Has cancer spread to other organs?
After determining this, breast cancer is staged in the following way:
- Stage 0 - Beginning of cancer, presence of precancerous cells. Cancer cells not invading nearby tissue
- Stage 1 - Cancerous tumor in breast less than 20 millimeters
- Stage 2 - Cancerous tumor between 20 and 50 millimeters (cancer may or may not have affected lymph nodes)
- Stage 3 - Cancer usually over 50 millimeters with spread to several lymph nodes
- Stage 4 - Cancer has spread to distant organs
Stage 1 breast cancer treatment has the best prognosis due to the limited spread. Many of these stages have substages, and your breast cancer treatment will depend on an accurate staging reached by the doctor at Max Hospital.
Diagnostic tests could include:
- Mammogram
- Ultrasonography
- PET scan
- MRI
- Tissue Biopsy
Risk Factors/Causes of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer can be caused by many genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Some of the risk factors that can increase your chances of developing breast cancer include:
- Age - Being over 55 years of age
- Sex - Being a woman
- Genetic factors - Certain inherited genes are known to cause breast cancer
- Lifestyle - Alcohol use, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle may increase the risk of developing breast cancer
- Hormones - Women using hormone replacement therapy have an increased risk of developing breast cancer
- Radiation exposure - Having undergone radiation therapy increases the risk of developing breast cancer
Max Hospital, one of the best hospitals for breast cancer treatment in India, recommends women with a family history of breast cancer seek consultation and discuss the risks.
Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Some of the common symptoms of breast cancer include:
- A change in the shape or size of the breast
- Presence of a lump or mass on the breast
- A change in the skin of the breast such as dimpling, a persistent rash, inflammation, or scaly patch
- Soreness or inversion of the nipple
- Discharge from the nipple (clear or blood-stained)
- Swollen lymph nodes near the breast or underarms
If you find any of these symptoms, you must contact Max Hospital with the best doctors for breast cancer in India. An early diagnosis and treatment at the top breast cancer hospital in India will significantly increase the chances of remission and recovery.
Breast Cancer Treatment in India
Breast cancer treatment in India will be designed to treat your type of cancer, keeping in mind the staging, genetic factors, and general health condition. Treatment protocols include:
- Surgery – Max Hospital offers the best technology and expertise for breast cancer surgery in India. These involve breast cancer surgery like lumpectomy or mastectomy, depending on the spread of cancer.
- Chemotherapy – killing the cancer cells with the use of specific drugs
- Radiation therapy – Use of high energy radiation to kill cancer cells
- Immunotherapy - Stimulating the immune system to attack breast cancer cells
- Targeted therapy and Hormone therapy - Use of targeted drugs or altering the hormone levels to slow down the growth of cancer.
Breast cancer treatment at Max Hospital could be a combination of any of these treatment protocols. The plan will depend on the course of treatment that offers the best outcome for you.
Cost of Breast Cancer Treatment in India
Breast cancer surgery costs in India will depend on the type of cancer, the spread, and staging, the need for hospitalization; follow-up treatments, the treatment options involved, etc. You may want to discuss the breast lump removal surgery charges with your doctor and the customer support personnel at Max Hospital to arrive at the estimated breast cancer cost in India.