Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Treatment in India - Why Surgery Is Only One Part?

This short explains that surgery is only one part of modern breast cancer treatment. A team of specialists usually combines several different therapies to treat the cancer.

Your treatment is planned by a team

Treating breast cancer usually involves a group of specialists, often called a multidisciplinary team, who work together.

• Surgical oncologist. This is the surgeon who removes the cancerous tissue from the breast. They may also remove lymph nodes from the armpit.
• Medical oncologist. This specialist manages treatments like chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. These are often given as tablets or through a drip.
• Radiation oncologist. This doctor uses high-energy rays, or radiation, to destroy cancer cells that may remain in the breast area after surgery.
• Pathologist. They examine the tissue removed during a biopsy or surgery. This confirms the diagnosis and provides key details about the cancer type.

Common treatment approaches

The combination and sequence of treatments depend on the type and stage of your cancer, as well as your general health.

• Surgery. This can be a lumpectomy (removing the tumour) or a mastectomy (removing the breast). The choice is decided on a case-by-case basis.
• Chemotherapy. These are drugs used to kill cancer cells. It may be given before surgery to shrink a tumour, or after surgery to reduce the risk of it returning.
• Radiation therapy. This is often used after a lumpectomy to reduce the chance of the cancer returning in the breast. It can also be used after a mastectomy in some cases.
• Hormonal therapy. If your cancer is sensitive to hormones, you may be offered tablets to block their effect. This treatment can continue for several years.

The suitability of any treatment depends on your individual case. A final plan can only be made after a specialist has reviewed your medical reports and recent imaging.