Breast cancer treatment plays a significant role in preventing the progression of the disease and ensuring its treatment. Breast cancer is a type of cancer frequently seen in women. One in eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Breast cancer most commonly occurs in the milk ducts and can also develop in the milk-producing glands of the breasts. Although breast cancer generally occurs in women during menopause, it can also develop at any age. The occurrence of breast cancer in men is less frequent than in women. For every 100 women with breast cancer, one man is diagnosed with the disease.
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How is Breast Cancer Treated?
Breast cancer treatment is determined based on the stage of the disease, the pathological type of cancer, its characteristics, and the overall health of the individual. During breast cancer treatment, methods such as surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy are utilized.
Surgical Procedure
In surgical treatment, either breast-conserving surgery, which involves removing only the cancerous area, or a mastectomy, which involves removing the entire breast, can be performed. In both procedures, axillary lymph nodes are checked during surgery. A special dye is used to locate the first lymph node in the armpit, and a pathological examination is conducted immediately. If the pathology report during surgery is clean, it is not necessary to remove all the lymph nodes in the armpit. If the pathology shows spread, the entire armpit is cleaned during the procedure. The preferred surgical method prioritizes preserving the breast whenever possible. Recent advancements have led to positive results in preserving the breast. When breast removal is necessary, plastic surgery is performed to reconstruct a new breast.
Radiotherapy Procedure
Radiotherapy, or radiation therapy, involves applying X-rays to the breast area and the armpit. This procedure is performed after surgery to eliminate cancer cells. This method is typically carried out over four to six weeks, five days a week. Radiotherapy has some side effects. Women undergoing radiotherapy may experience fatigue. Swelling and heaviness in the breast may occur. The treated area may develop discoloration resembling a sunburn. These side effects usually resolve on their own within a year.
Chemotherapy Procedure
In chemotherapy, medications that help kill cancer cells are used. The drugs are administered orally or intravenously, spreading throughout the body. Chemotherapy is applied in cycles, with four to six cycles typically administered. Each cycle lasts three weeks, resulting in a total treatment duration of three to five months. Even if no cancer remains in the body, chemotherapy may be given to protect the body, a method known as adjuvant chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is used to shrink the tumor size.
Hormone Therapy
Some breast cancer cells bind to estrogen through hormone receptors. Breast cancer treatment includes hormone therapy to prevent the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. This treatment targets the effects of estrogen released by the ovaries on breast cancer cells, thereby inhibiting cancer growth by eliminating the effects of estrogen.
FAQs About Breast Cancer Surgery
- Does breast cancer surgery always require the removal of the entire breast?
If breast cancer is localized to a single area and sufficient breast volume remains after removing the cancer, there is no need to remove the entire breast.
- What is oncoplastic (breast-conserving) surgery?
Oncoplastic surgery allows for the removal of tumor tissue in breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery, followed by the aesthetic correction of any defects or deformities without compromising oncological principles.
- When should oncoplastic surgery be performed?
It can be performed when a significant amount of breast tissue needs to be removed, if the tumor is large, or if the tumor is located in the upper, middle, or inner regions of the breast, especially in cases of large breasts.
- Who can undergo breast-conserving surgery?
Breast-conserving surgery can be safely performed in early-stage patients (stage 1 and stage 2). In advanced stages, chemotherapy can first be used to reduce the stage and prepare the patient for breast-conserving surgery.
- In which cases is breast-conserving surgery not feasible?
In theory, breast-conserving surgery can be performed on all breast cancer patients. However, the ratio between the size of the tumor and the breast volume is crucial. If there is insufficient breast tissue remaining after the tumor is removed, there is no point in performing breast-conserving surgery. If the breast volume is adequate, breast-conserving surgery can even be performed in advanced-stage breast cancer patients after chemotherapy (neoadjuvant).
- What should patients pay attention to after breast cancer surgery?
After breast cancer surgery, the patient must remain under the supervision of a medical oncologist and complete their treatment. This treatment typically includes chemotherapy and, if necessary, radiotherapy. Follow-ups should include clinical examinations, radiological imaging (mammography, ultrasound, PET, MRI), and biochemical tests.
- Can patients become pregnant after breast cancer treatment?
Patients can become pregnant after breast cancer surgery. For patients planning chemotherapy, eggs can be frozen with the guidance of an obstetrician and used for pregnancy after treatment.
