Breast Cancer Treatment in India

What is Breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a malignancy that originates from the cells of the breast gland. Triggered by abnormal cell transformation, the disease is marked by their uncontrollable growth and multiplication that eventually results in the formation of a mass or lump called a tumour. Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in females affecting 1 of 8 women globally. The malignancy is more common in women above the age of 50, with a prevalence of nearly 80 per cent, and the risks increase with advancing age. 

Breast cancer is usually diagnosed as a solid mass or lump that keeps on growing with time. The disease is usually diagnosed with a physical breast examination and confirmed with the help of a breast ultrasound or Mammogram. 

Breast cancer can be genetic, i.e., passed through generations, or triggered by hormonal changes or environmental carcinogens. 

Various symptoms associated with breast cancer include:

• Formation of a mass or lump in the breast that can be easily felt with the touch of your hand
• Dimpling of skin over the breast
• Change in the appearance or texture of the breast, which involves the shape and size. 
• Inverted nipple
• Peeling or scaling of skin around the nipple
• Unexplained rashes and redness on the breasts
• Blood or fluid discharge from the nipples. 

Things you need to know

• The duration of hospital stay varies from one patient to another depending upon their overall treatment plan. 
• Your average length of stay will be considerably longer as compared to other treatments. 

How Treat India helps you to find the best healthcare facility in India? 
Over the past few years, India has become one of the leading hubs for medical tourism, attracting lakhs of patients from across borders and seas. With hundreds and thousands of options to choose from, it becomes rather difficult to make your decision. With a curated list of around 101 Hospitals & Clinics and 95 doctors & surgeons, Treat India is your ultimate guide to finding quality treatment in India. 

We provide you with access to the top oncologists and breast cancer specialists so as to give you a hassle-free experience and help you make an informed decision, ensuring the right optimization of your time and finances. 

Connect with us to know more about your treatment and how we plan your medical journey with our experts. 

How to prepare for the treatment? 

• You will be required to undergo certain screenings and tests, like bilateral mammography and breast ultrasound, to confirm the diagnosis and determine the exact location of the tumour and how far the cancer has spread. 
• Necessary additional tests that you need to undergo include cytological puncture, surgical biopsy, thoracic radiography, hepatic ultrasound scan and bone scan. 
• You will be briefed about the complete treatment plan and all the possible outcomes
• You need to inform your doctor about any medicine or health supplement that you have been taking 
• You need to make sure that your doctor is well aware of your medical history

Procedure involved:
Breast cancer treatment is usually of three types:

• Surgery - Breast Cancer Surgery can be of many types:
• Mastectomy - It aims at the surgical removal of the entire breast along with the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes 
• Breast reconstruction - The surgical procedure aims at restoring the normal shape of the breasts post-mastectomy. 
• Lumpectomy - Also known as a partial mastectomy, the procedure aims at removing only the affected area of the breast rather than removing the complete breast. 
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection - These are done to determine and assess the extent to which the cancer has spread. 
• Radiotherapy - It involves the use of intense beams of light to target and kill the cancer cells. This can be done before the surgery, to reduce the size of the tumour and make it easier to extract, or after the surgery to kill the cancer cells that were left behind. 
• Drug treatment - This includes chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and a variety of other therapies to target the cancer cell, slow down their growth and relieve the symptoms. 
• All these can be used individually or in combination, depending upon the specific requirements of the patients. 

What to expect after the procedure? 

• Patients undergoing surgery need to take proper rest for a few days following the surgery. Slight pain and discomfort are common which can be taken care of with the help of the prescribed medication. You will be required to wear loose clothes to avoid any unnecessary pressure on your chest 
• Patients undergoing Radiation therapy are kept under observation for some time to make sure there are no side effects. 
• Patients undergoing chemotherapy are usually kept in isolation for a couple of hours owing to their compromised immunity.
• Depending upon your, you will be given a set of guidelines that is to be followed religiously. 

Potential risks that you need to know about

• Temporary swelling, breast tenderness, scarring and phantom breast pain post-surgery
• Hair loss, nausea, fatigue, bruising and vomiting post chemotherapy
• Heart damage or inflammation of lung tissues post radiation therapy. 
• Lowering of oestrogen levels post hormonal therapy