Breast cancer treatment: surgical and oncological

Breast cancer treatment can be divided into surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Radical mastectomy, which is the term for removing the entire breast, has been the first choice for years. During this procedure, the regional lymph nodes in the armpits and pectoral muscles were also removed.

Nowadays, this form of operation is not the preferred choice. Either the part of the breast in which there is a tumour, the so-called quadrant resection, is removed, or the affected segment, i.e. segmental resection, is removed. Tumorectomy is the surgical removal of a tumour, along with the minimum of healthy tissue.

This partial form of surgery is more acceptable for women, since it is not as psychologically taxing as total mastectomy. Of course, the limit is the size and the surrounding areas affected by the tumour.

Lymphatic tissue removal used to be a common complication - lymphedema. Today, thanks to the saving method, it is only in about 10% of cases. It is not painful, but it is manifested by swelling of the upper limb on the side of the operation.

Radiotherapy is a treatment that has been used for many years, as it rather effective. The affected tissue is irradiated in a targeted manner, thereby saving the surrounding tissue, i.e. the healthy parts. Irradiation has a negative impact mainly on tumour cells, which cannot regenerate after the effects of ionizing radiation.

On the contrary, healthy tissue is regenerated.

Radiotherapy is selected after surgery. Its role is to damage the remaining cancer cells that could not be surgically removed. This sequence is intended to reduce the risk of disease recurrence. The treatment lasts approximately 6 weeks.

Biological drugs bring innovative treatment even where conventional treatment has failed

Chemotherapy, the cytostatic treatment, has the task of stopping the growth of cancer. It interferes with the growth of cells, especially those that are characterized by rapid growth, ie predominantly tumour cells. Their form can be tablets, such as capsules, but also injections or infusions. It takes several months.

Chemotherapy also plays a role in tumour metastasis. She has to stop him. This form is also chosen after breast surgery. The downside is that it does affect other cells of the human body. It mainly acts on fast-growing tumourous growth, but has side and side effects.

Known negative effects of chemotherapy on:

• hair loss
• nausea and vomiting
• loss of appetite
• mucositis
• bone marrow
• more common infections
• bleeding

Hormone therapy is given to treat tumours that are dependent on female hormones either in the form of estrogen blockers, antiestrogens or drugs that reduce their production.

Progestogens that lower estrogen levels and drugs that prevent the production of hormones in the ovaries may be administered. The removal of the ovaries, which are the main producers of estrogen, is no longer an option.

Breast reconstruction, i.e. plastic surgery, and the use of silicone implants is important. Post-treatment care includes repeated check-ups, rehabilitation and, if necessary, psychotherapy.

Medical care plays an important role in the early detection of recurrence.