Female | 46
Asked on 20th Aug, 2022

Hello, I want to know if breasts are removed in Breast Cancer surgeries, or are there any other methods in which there is no need of removing the whole breasts?

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Dr. Babita Goel

General Physician

24 years of experience

Answered on 13th January 2020

The biology and behavior of breast cancer will be considered for planning the treatment of breast cancer. Treatment options also depends on several factors like the tumor subtype, hormone receptor status, stage of the tumor, patient's age, general health, menopausal status, and preferences. The presence of known mutations in inherited breast cancer genes, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2. There are some general steps commonly preferred for treating early-stage and locally advanced breast cancer. Doctors generally recommend surgery to remove the tumor in breast. Though the goal of surgery is to remove all the cancer which is visible but microscopic cells sometimes remain behind. Therefore another surgery may be required. For cancers which are large or are rapidly growing, the clinician suggest systemic treatment with chemotherapy or hormonal therapy before surgery. This is called neo-adjuvant therapy. This helps in shrinking the tumor which is easy to operate; also breast can be preserved in some cases. After surgery it is important to check for recurrence. Then adjuvant therapy is advised. Adjuvant therapies may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and/or hormonal therapy When surgery to remove the cancer is not possible, it is called inoperable, and then Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, and/or hormonal therapy may be given to shrink the cancer. For recurrent cancer, treatment options depend on how the cancer was first treated and the characteristics of the cancer. What will be the line of treatment in your case will depend on your clinical condition. You can take one more opinion to a clear understanding of your concerns. Consult Cancer Treatment doctors in Mumbai, or any other city you find convenient.

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