Side-Green.Com - How is Breast Cancer Treated? - Breast cancer is a disease caused by malignant cells (cancer) that grows in the breast tissue. These cells usually appear in the breast ducts or lobula. Cancer cells can spread between tissues or organs that exist and to other body parts.
How common is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of death for women today. In Singapore, one of 16 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Chinese women have a higher risk compared with Malays or Indians approximately 10% to 20%. The highest cases occurred in the age group 55-59 years. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. The good news now is that more women are now able to fight breast cancer because of early detection and improving the quality of treatment.
What The cause?
Factors triggering this cancer is not yet known. But this can be traced from a family history of breast cancer, early menstrual cycle, or the possibility of other risk factors. Because it is so difficult to be sure, each of us has the risk of breast cancer, especially when we are aged 40 years or more. Although the causes are still unknown, but complete healing is possible with early detection through regular breast examinations.
How common is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of death for women today. In Singapore, one of 16 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Chinese women have a higher risk compared with Malays or Indians approximately 10% to 20%. The highest cases occurred in the age group 55-59 years. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. The good news now is that more women are now able to fight breast cancer because of early detection and improving the quality of treatment.
What The cause?
Factors triggering this cancer is not yet known. But this can be traced from a family history of breast cancer, early menstrual cycle, or the possibility of other risk factors. Because it is so difficult to be sure, each of us has the risk of breast cancer, especially when we are aged 40 years or more. Although the causes are still unknown, but complete healing is possible with early detection through regular breast examinations.
Symptoms
Signs of Breast Cancer:
- Painless lumps in the breast
- Itching and rash are continuously around the nipple
- Bleeding or discharge from the nipple that is not usually
- Breast skin to swell and thicken
- Breast skin wrinkle or become concave
- Putting sinking into the
Treatment & Care
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options and prognosis (chance of recovery) depends on the stage of the cancer (whether the cancer is in the breast only or has spread to other body parts), the type of breast cancer, the characteristics of the cancer and whether the cancer cells are found in the other breast. Age woman, menopausal status (whether a woman still has a menstrual cycle) and general health conditions can affect treatment options and prognosis.
Surgery
Surgery is common to remove the cancer. Some forms of surgical procedures including:
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options and prognosis (chance of recovery) depends on the stage of the cancer (whether the cancer is in the breast only or has spread to other body parts), the type of breast cancer, the characteristics of the cancer and whether the cancer cells are found in the other breast. Age woman, menopausal status (whether a woman still has a menstrual cycle) and general health conditions can affect treatment options and prognosis.
Surgery
Surgery is common to remove the cancer. Some forms of surgical procedures including:
- Surgery with Breast. Lumpectomy or Wide Local Excision - removal of the cancer and surrounding tissue slightly. Quadrantektomi - removal of the cancer by raising more than lumpectomy surrounding tissue. For quadrantektomi procedure, a quarter part of the breast is removed.
- Mastectomy - removal of the entire breast with or without lymph node tissue below the axilla.
- When breast surgery, some cells in the lymph nodes under the arm are also taken for examination.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to kill the targeted cancer cells. The goal is to kill cancer cells that may remain around the breast.
Radiotherapy is vital after surgical procedures that maintain the breast, such as lumpectomy, because most of the breast tissue is left intact. This therapy will reduce the recurrence of breast cancer.
In general, women who underwent mastectomy procedure does not require radiotherapy. However, for some cases, this procedure needs to be done to treat the chest wall and lymph nodes in the armpit that is, when the risk of cancer coming back locally is still high.
Systemic therapy
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to kill the targeted cancer cells. The goal is to kill cancer cells that may remain around the breast.
Radiotherapy is vital after surgical procedures that maintain the breast, such as lumpectomy, because most of the breast tissue is left intact. This therapy will reduce the recurrence of breast cancer.
In general, women who underwent mastectomy procedure does not require radiotherapy. However, for some cases, this procedure needs to be done to treat the chest wall and lymph nodes in the armpit that is, when the risk of cancer coming back locally is still high.
Systemic therapy
- chemotherapy
- hormone therapy
- Herceptin
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to kill the targeted cancer cells. The goal is to kill cancer cells that may remain around the breast.
Radiotherapy is vital after surgical procedures that maintain the breast, such as lumpectomy, because most of the breast tissue is left intact. This therapy will reduce the recurrence of breast cancer.
In general, women who underwent mastectomy procedure does not require radiotherapy. However, for some cases, this procedure needs to be done to treat the chest wall and lymph nodes in the armpit that is, when the risk of cancer coming back locally is still high.
Rehabilitation
Physical rehabilitation, including:
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to kill the targeted cancer cells. The goal is to kill cancer cells that may remain around the breast.
Radiotherapy is vital after surgical procedures that maintain the breast, such as lumpectomy, because most of the breast tissue is left intact. This therapy will reduce the recurrence of breast cancer.
In general, women who underwent mastectomy procedure does not require radiotherapy. However, for some cases, this procedure needs to be done to treat the chest wall and lymph nodes in the armpit that is, when the risk of cancer coming back locally is still high.
Rehabilitation
Physical rehabilitation, including:
- Shoulder exercises after surgery
- Hand treatment to prevent lymphoedema
- Balancing nutrition and lifestyle adaptations to improve healing
Mental Rehabilitation includes:
- Strong support from partner, family, friends, and support groups
- A woman can feel safe in knowing his recovery opportunities
- Regularly attending physician consultation
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