Mammary gland cancer treatment
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Mammary gland cancer treatment is done with surgeries, radiation therapy as well as chemo- and hormonal therapies. It depends on the stage of pathological process how to cure the mammary gland cancer. While stage 0 mammary gland cancer treatment is surgery only, further development of the oncologic process requires inclusion of other techniques as well.
Treatment of mammary gland cancer is successful in most of cases and can be cured completely. Even late stages of the diseases are not considered a terminal. Doctors have many methods in their armor that allow prolonged life expectancy in case of widespread tumor process. Let's talk about how to treat mammary gland cancer with the help of various therapeutic approaches.
Content
- Surgical treatment
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Hormonal therapy
- After treatment
- Alternative treatment of mammary gland cancer
- Hospitals and treatment costs
- Treatment in Germany
Surgical treatment
Surgery remains the main treatment method of the mammary gland cancer. Depending on the stage of the oncologic process and the size of the tumor, the doctor decides to remove the entire breast or tumor in mammary gland. Undoubtedly, mastectomy carries fewer risks associated with a possible relapse of the disease. But at the same time, this approach is associated with significant psychological discomfort for a woman in the future.
Doctors give preference to organ preserving surgeries in mammary gland cancer of stages 1 and 2. Meanwhile, tumor size has to be no more than 2.5 cm. As research has shown, results of surgery in this case do differ from those when removing the whole breast.
Organ preserving surgeries in mammary gland cancer include:
- Lumpectomy
- Segmental resection of the breast
- Quadrantectomy
After surgery pictures witness the satisfying aesthetic effect of organ preserving interventions. At the same time, the surgeon achieves the main goal of treatment - removal of the tumor along with a small area of healthy tissue. Usually it is 10 or more mm from the edge of the tumor growth.
Reconstructive surgery can be done to improve appearance of the breast after the surgery. It can improve the quality of life after surgery of mammary gland cancer. Surgery is done using both woman’s own tissues and endoprostheses. Surgical intervention to restore the shape of the breast can be carried out simultaneously with its removal or later, as a separate procedure.
Mastectomy, removal of the mammary gland, is indicated at stage 2B of disease. It can be subtotal (removal of 2/3 of the breast) or radical (amputation). Mammary gland cancer at stage 3B requires an extended mastectomy. The breast, also the lymph nodes, parts of the muscle tissue, skin, etc. are removed during the surgery, depending on the spread of the neoplasm.
The main contraindications to surgical treatment:
- Spread of tumor in the chest wall
- Multiple metastases in lymph nodes
- Erysipelas
- Severe somatic diseases (pathology of the heart, kidneys, liver, diabetes mellitus at the stage of decompensation)
Surgical treatment is also used to treat single metastases, in particular, single bone metastases (a common area of breast cancer metastasizing). The separate article is devoted to methods of bone metastases treatment.
Radiation therapy
Treatment of mammary gland cancer is more efficient in conjunction of surgery with radiation therapy. It can be done both before and after the intervention. Radiation therapy for mammary gland cancer before the surgery helps to reduce the tumor size making it resectable. Radiation therapy after the surgery reduces the risk of local recurrences.
Preoperative radiotherapy allows:
- Reduce the size of the lesion
- Prevent spread of the tumor (irradiation suppresses the tumor cells from entering the bloodstream during the surgery)
Irradiation is prescribed 1-2 days before surgery, if its goal is to prevent metastasis. But if radiotherapy is done to reduce the size of the tumor, the operation is performed only 2-3 weeks after the skin reaction has subside after the irradiation.
After surgery, treatment of mammary gland cancer with radiotherapy is done if:
- Tumor size is more than 5 cm
- Neoplasm grows into the fascia of the large pectoral muscle
- 4 or more lymph nodes are affected
Without the irradiation, the probability of recurrence of mammary gland cancer exceeds 25% in all these cases. However, radiotherapy started no later than 3 months after surgery, reduces this risk.
With mammary gland cancer stage 4, treatment with radiation can be used instead of a surgical procedure. It can reduce the manifestations of the disease and increase life expectancy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy for mammary gland cancer is used to prevent development of distant metastases. However, it poorly affects the probability of the local recurrences. Chemotherapy for mammary gland cancer is prescribed to basically all the patients after the surgery and if the risk of distant metastases is high – even before the surgery.
Main indications are:
- Size of the primary tumor is more than 2 cm
- Metastatic lymph node involvement
- Young age of the patient
- Hormone-negative tumors
- Low-grade cancer
The main advantage of chemotherapy for the treatment of mammary gland cancer is that the drugs affect all tumor cells, wherever they are. Therefore, the effectiveness of this method for spread tumor processes reaches 80%. Until recently, the effects of chemotherapy in the treatment of mammary gland cancer have often been unfavorable. The lethality reached 25%. However, today in developed countries, modern treatment regimens are used; colony-stimulating factors are used. Therefore, the mortality from complications of chemotherapy decreased to less than 3%. In addition, developed countries use advanced methods of drug treatment.
In Germany, mammary gland cancer is treated with targeted therapy. Local chemotherapy is also used, when high doses of drugs are injected through the lymphatic vessels, as well as chemoembolization through the internal thoracic artery.
Hormonal therapy
Tumor cells often have receptors for estrogen and progesterone. This allows applying hormonal treatment of mammary gland cancer. It helps to slow the tumor growth.
The main goal of the treatment is to reduce the effect of estrogens on tumor tissue. In young patients, the main treating agent of mammary gland cancer in hormonal therapy is the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. They "turn off" the ovaries, so they don’t produce hormones. Anti-estrogens are also prescribed.
During the menopause, aromatase inhibitors are used. Because in older women the ovaries do not function, estrogens are practically not produced. But they are formed from androstenedione, which is produced by the adrenal glands. This transformation takes place under the action of the aromatase enzyme. Accordingly, pills blocking this enzyme allow reducing the content of estrogen in the blood and slowing the growth of the tumor in mammary gland cancer.
After treatment
A patient is kept under the observation after the provided treatment. She can lead the previous lifestyle. Special diet during the treatment of mammary gland cancer is not needed. However, it is recommended to:
- Self-examine mammary glands monthly
- Have doctor’s examination by doctor - every three months within the first year, every 6 months for 2 and 3 years after treatment, and in the future - annually
- Mammography - once a year
All this is required to timely detect possible mammary gland cancer recurrence. If there is a suspicions, then more thorough examination is required with the use of laboratory tests for oncologic markers, CT or MRI.
Alternative treatment of mammary gland cancer
Alternative therapies should also be mentioned. Treatment of mammary gland cancer often begins with ineffective methods. Basically, this happens when the patient is committed to traditional medicine, or is misled by false promises for profit. Unfortunately, this often leads to the fact that the cancer develops, goes to the next stage, and in the future the prognosis of the disease worsens significantly.
Treatment of mammary gland cancer with aconite. Aconite is a poisonous plant. It is dangerous even with external use. But with mammary gland cancer, alternative medicine fans recommend taking it internally. This can result in severe poisoning, respiratory depression, dizziness, cardiac arrhythmia and convulsions. In this case, even minimal therapeutic effect of taking this plant is unlikely.
Treatment of mammary gland cancer with ASD-2. Dorogov's antiseptic stimulant is an obsolete remedy for all diseases, developed back in the USSR during the World War II. This liquid has a stimulating, regenerative and antiseptic effect. But today it is sold as a panacea. However, there is no evidence of clinical effectiveness of ASD-2 agent.
Conventional medicine in mammary gland cancer. Herbs are very often used for treatment of mammary gland cancer. Fans of traditional medicine recommend taking celandine, thyme, foal foot, chamomile and dozens of other plants. Having read books written by folk healers, it seems that there is no such grass that would not heal breast cancer in a few days. But in fact the effectiveness of a single plant is not confirmed. Therefore, there is no benefit in using them.
Indian medicine. Ayurveda is another method of alternative medicine. Her admirer is Dr. Torsunov - a writer and author of non-traditional recreational techniques. As Torsunov believes, mammary gland cancer can be cured at any stage with Ayurveda. In the process of therapy, the doctor takes into account the energy structure of a person, the astrological influence of planets and other pseudoscientific developments. The effectiveness of the methods that Torsunov uses is not confirmed.
Metaphysics and breast cancer. One of the sections of philosophy that explores the original nature of the world is called metaphysics. Its fans believe that everything, including mammary gland cancer, has metaphysical reasons. By eliminating them, you can recover. If we talk about the mammary glands, then their health, in terms of metaphysics, contributes to kindness, joy and tenderness. And breast cancer allegedly causes anger, rudeness, and weak character.
Esoteric and mammary gland cancer. From the point of view of esotericism, any type of cancer refers to diseases related to the violation of karma. In order not to get ill, you cannot carry sorrow in yourself. Illness causes inability to open to close people, excessive self-control. If you renounce all earthly things and reconsider your life experience, then the cancer will disappear. It is also believed that mammary gland cancer is associated with a grievance related to a love relationship.
Hospitals and treatment costs
Breast cancer treatment is considered successful in case of complete removal of the tumor and metastases, stable remission of the disease, and absence of physical discomfort in the upper extremities. Restoration of the appearance of the operated breast is carried out at the request of the woman.
Leaders in the breast cancer treatment are:
- University Hospital Tuebingen, Department of Adult and Pediatric Gynecology, Mammology, Obstetrics
- University Hospital Ulm, Department of Obstetrics, Adult and Pediatric Gynecology
- Charite University Hospital Berlin, Department of Adult and Pediatric Gynecology, Mammology
- University Hospital Frankfurt-am-Main, Department of Adult and Pediatric Gynecology, Obstetrics and Mammology
- University Hospital Halle (Saale), Department of Gynecology and Mammology
Average cost of the main types of treatment is as follows:
- Sectoral resection for breast cancer with further flap plasty – €8,870
- Radical mastectomy for breast cancer with removal of the pectoralis major or minor fascia – €9,640
- Treatment of breast cancer with lymph node metastases by lumpectomy with lymphadenectomy – €12,880
- Plastic reconstruction of the breast with own tissues using the DIEP flap method – €32,850
- Breast reconstruction after mastectomy with own tissues or implant – €12,810
- Breast reconstruction after tumor removal with an expander or alloprosthesis – €9,610
- Chemotherapy for breast cancer – €4,790
- Treatment of breast cancer by embolization or chemoembolization – €31,930
- Radiation therapy for breast cancer – €24,370
- Brachytherapy for breast cancer – €8,670
- Proton therapy for breast cancer – €62,570
The total cost of the medical program depends on the selected treatment regimen and is determined based on the results of the initial examination.
Treatment in Germany
Neither the herbs nor the change in the outlook will cure mammary gland cancer. They will only help improve the psychological state, creating the illusion of treatment and giving false hope. If you need a real result, use the services of the best doctors in the world.
Germany is one of the countries with a high level of healthcare. Thousands of patients from all over the world travel here to undergo treatment for breast cancer.
We can arrange your trip to Germany. Employees of Booking Health will help you to:
- Choose a suitable hospital, where doctors have excelled in the treatment of mammary gland cancer
- Negotiate with its administration treatment logistics
- Reduce waiting time for treatment
- Reduce costs by up to 70%
We will provide the following services: help you to get visa, book flights for you, meet at the airport and transport to the hospital by car. Thanks to Booking Health you will be able to focus on your treatment, delegating to us all organizational issues.
Choose treatment abroad and you will for sure get the best results!
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk, Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
National Center for Biotechnology
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