Breast Cancer Treatment -Surgery or Radiation therapy
The tumor that is malignant and starts in the breast cells are called as ‘Breast Cancer’. It is a group of mutated cells which grows up rapidly and invades the adjacent tissues and also extends to the nearby areas of the body. This type of cancer is specially confined to women’s group. Normally the breast cancer starts from the cells found in the lining of the ducts (Ductal Cancer) and few others start in the cells which line the lobules (Lobular Cancer).
How Breast Cancer is treated with Surgery or Radiation Therapy?
Surgical Method:
It is one of the widely used treatment mode for Breast cancer. The two forms are Breast Conserving surgery and Mastectomy. Reconstruction of breast is one simultaneously or later on.
Breast Conserving Surgery:
Only the part of the breast which contains the tumor is excised and it is often called as ‘Partial or Segmental Mastectomy’ or ‘Lumpectomy’ or ‘Quadranectomy’. Based on the size and location of the lump and the amount of breast is excised is decided. The lump along with some healthy tissues is removed during the surgery. There are two condition identified during the surgery. Positive margins is a condition were the mutated cells are found at the ends of the tissue and negative or clear margins is a condition were there are no mutated cells found on the ends of the tissues removed. If the surgeon finds the positive margin the will remove the nearby tissues and is called as ‘Re-excision’ procedure. Radiation therapy is given after the Breast Conserving surgery.
Mastectomy:
It is procedure in which the entire breast is removed during the surgery. The breast tissue is removed completely but sometimes the nearby tissues are also excised.
Simple Mastectomy:
It is one of the common types of surgery that is used to treat breast cancer. The surgeon excises the entire breast along with the nipple, but the lymph nodes found in the underarm or tissues found beneath the breast are not detached. This procedure is also called as ‘Total Mastectomy’. In few cases, both the breasts are removed which is referred to as ‘Double mastectomy’ and is specifically done to women who are at high risk of acquiring cancer in another breast. It is done under general anesthesia and the patients often go home on the next day.
Skin Sparing Mastectomy:
For some women who opt for instant reconstruction of breast, skin sparing mastectomy is the ideal choice for them. Here most of the skin covering the breast other than the nipple and the areola region is left unharmed. The tissues removed are similar with simple mastectomy. This surgery is preferred only when immediate reconstruction is planned. But patients who has big tumor or when it is located near the surface of the skin, this surgery is not suitable for them. The tissue from the different area of the body is used for reconstruction.
Most women prefer this surgery because the scar is less and the breast reconstructed looks more natural.
Nipple Sparing Mastectomy:
It is ideal for women who have small or early stage of cancer that is located on the outer area of the breast and does not show any sign of tumor over the skin and the nipple. The breast tissue is removed except the skin of the breast and nipple. After that reconstruction of the breast is done.
Modified Radical Mastectomy:
This procedure is the combination of Simple mastectomy and excision of the axillary lymph nodes.
Radical Mastectomy:
The total breast along with the axillary lymph nodes and the muscles of the chest wall found beneath the breast is removed. This procedure was once frequently used but after the introduction of less extensive surgery such as modified radical mastectomy this become less active.
The merit of having Breast Conserving Surgery is the woman’s own breast is saved to the large extent and the survival is increased for more than twenty years with enhanced outcome. But the mastectomy does not present better chance of endurance or good outcome. The only disadvantage of BCS is radiation therapy is needed for a period of 5-6 weeks.
Radiation Therapy:
It uses high energy rays or particles to destroy the mutated cells. It is often given after BCS to lessen the recurrence of tumor of the Breast. It is given after mastectomy only if the patient has tumor more than 5cm or when the tumor is present in the lymph nodes.
It is usually given externally (External Beam Radiation) or internally (Internal Beam Radiation or Brachytherapy).
External Beam Radiation:
The high beam rays are passed out from the external machine to the area affected on the body. The degree of the radiation dose depends on the surgery performed whether mastectomy or breast conserving surgery and also if the lymph nodes are involved or not.
In case of Mastectomy, the radiation is focused on the chest wall and the drains which depart the body. In BCS, the radiation is focused on the entire area of the breast in order to prevent the comeback of cancer again. In lymph node removal, the radiation is confined to that area alone but in some cases, the supraclavicular lymph node and the internal mammary lymph nodes are treated.
The procedure is similar to taking an X-ray and is pain free and the treatment lasts only for few minutes and it is given for five days in a week for about five to six weeks.
Accelerated Beam Irradiation:
Here large dosed of Radiation is given on daily basis for about three weeks only when compared to External Beam Radiation.
3D- Conformal Radiation Therapy:
The radiation is accelerated through the special device so that the tumor is aimed exactly and the surrounding healthy tissues are spared. The dose is given twice a day for five days.
Brachytherapy:
In this technique, the radioactive capsule or seed is kept within the body by means of a device in the breast tissue of the located tumor. It is also used with external beam radiation where the patient had BCS additionally to boost the radiation therapy in the tumor area.
The two major forms of brachytherapy is,
Interstitial Brachytherapy:
Tiny cylindrical tubes called ‘Catheter’ are inserted in the breast where the lump is removed and then left for several days. The radioactive capsule are introduced in these tubes for shorter time each day and removed. But it is not used widely.
Intracavitary Brachytherapy:
This is the most widely used brachytherapy for women diagnosed with breast cancer and is considered to be a part of Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation. A small instrument is kept into the space left after the BCS is done and removed only after the treatment is completed. For each treatment, the capsule is put inside the tube for shorter span and then taken back. It is done twice a day for about five days as an outpatient basis.
How Breast Cancer is treated with Surgery or Radiation Therapy?
Surgical Method:
It is one of the widely used treatment mode for Breast cancer. The two forms are Breast Conserving surgery and Mastectomy. Reconstruction of breast is one simultaneously or later on.
Breast Conserving Surgery:
Only the part of the breast which contains the tumor is excised and it is often called as ‘Partial or Segmental Mastectomy’ or ‘Lumpectomy’ or ‘Quadranectomy’. Based on the size and location of the lump and the amount of breast is excised is decided. The lump along with some healthy tissues is removed during the surgery. There are two condition identified during the surgery. Positive margins is a condition were the mutated cells are found at the ends of the tissue and negative or clear margins is a condition were there are no mutated cells found on the ends of the tissues removed. If the surgeon finds the positive margin the will remove the nearby tissues and is called as ‘Re-excision’ procedure. Radiation therapy is given after the Breast Conserving surgery.
Mastectomy:
It is procedure in which the entire breast is removed during the surgery. The breast tissue is removed completely but sometimes the nearby tissues are also excised.
Simple Mastectomy:
It is one of the common types of surgery that is used to treat breast cancer. The surgeon excises the entire breast along with the nipple, but the lymph nodes found in the underarm or tissues found beneath the breast are not detached. This procedure is also called as ‘Total Mastectomy’. In few cases, both the breasts are removed which is referred to as ‘Double mastectomy’ and is specifically done to women who are at high risk of acquiring cancer in another breast. It is done under general anesthesia and the patients often go home on the next day.
Skin Sparing Mastectomy:
For some women who opt for instant reconstruction of breast, skin sparing mastectomy is the ideal choice for them. Here most of the skin covering the breast other than the nipple and the areola region is left unharmed. The tissues removed are similar with simple mastectomy. This surgery is preferred only when immediate reconstruction is planned. But patients who has big tumor or when it is located near the surface of the skin, this surgery is not suitable for them. The tissue from the different area of the body is used for reconstruction.
Most women prefer this surgery because the scar is less and the breast reconstructed looks more natural.
Nipple Sparing Mastectomy:
It is ideal for women who have small or early stage of cancer that is located on the outer area of the breast and does not show any sign of tumor over the skin and the nipple. The breast tissue is removed except the skin of the breast and nipple. After that reconstruction of the breast is done.
Modified Radical Mastectomy:
This procedure is the combination of Simple mastectomy and excision of the axillary lymph nodes.
Radical Mastectomy:
The total breast along with the axillary lymph nodes and the muscles of the chest wall found beneath the breast is removed. This procedure was once frequently used but after the introduction of less extensive surgery such as modified radical mastectomy this become less active.
The merit of having Breast Conserving Surgery is the woman’s own breast is saved to the large extent and the survival is increased for more than twenty years with enhanced outcome. But the mastectomy does not present better chance of endurance or good outcome. The only disadvantage of BCS is radiation therapy is needed for a period of 5-6 weeks.
Radiation Therapy:
It uses high energy rays or particles to destroy the mutated cells. It is often given after BCS to lessen the recurrence of tumor of the Breast. It is given after mastectomy only if the patient has tumor more than 5cm or when the tumor is present in the lymph nodes.
It is usually given externally (External Beam Radiation) or internally (Internal Beam Radiation or Brachytherapy).
External Beam Radiation:
The high beam rays are passed out from the external machine to the area affected on the body. The degree of the radiation dose depends on the surgery performed whether mastectomy or breast conserving surgery and also if the lymph nodes are involved or not.
In case of Mastectomy, the radiation is focused on the chest wall and the drains which depart the body. In BCS, the radiation is focused on the entire area of the breast in order to prevent the comeback of cancer again. In lymph node removal, the radiation is confined to that area alone but in some cases, the supraclavicular lymph node and the internal mammary lymph nodes are treated.
The procedure is similar to taking an X-ray and is pain free and the treatment lasts only for few minutes and it is given for five days in a week for about five to six weeks.
Accelerated Beam Irradiation:
Here large dosed of Radiation is given on daily basis for about three weeks only when compared to External Beam Radiation.
3D- Conformal Radiation Therapy:
The radiation is accelerated through the special device so that the tumor is aimed exactly and the surrounding healthy tissues are spared. The dose is given twice a day for five days.
Brachytherapy:
In this technique, the radioactive capsule or seed is kept within the body by means of a device in the breast tissue of the located tumor. It is also used with external beam radiation where the patient had BCS additionally to boost the radiation therapy in the tumor area.
The two major forms of brachytherapy is,
Interstitial Brachytherapy:
Tiny cylindrical tubes called ‘Catheter’ are inserted in the breast where the lump is removed and then left for several days. The radioactive capsule are introduced in these tubes for shorter time each day and removed. But it is not used widely.
Intracavitary Brachytherapy:
This is the most widely used brachytherapy for women diagnosed with breast cancer and is considered to be a part of Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation. A small instrument is kept into the space left after the BCS is done and removed only after the treatment is completed. For each treatment, the capsule is put inside the tube for shorter span and then taken back. It is done twice a day for about five days as an outpatient basis.