Comprehensive Breast Care Unit

Comprehensive Breast Care Unit

Breast problems are quite common in women, and the incidence of breast cancer in urban Indian women is rapidly increasing. Increased consumption of high-fat foods, sedentary lifestyle, late marriages, postmenopausal obesity, lesser number of children being conceived and delayed childbearing, and reduced duration of breastfeeding are all believed to be responsible for this increased growth in breast cancer cases.

Breast cancer can metastasize and progress to an advanced stage if it is left untreated or neglected. This threatens the life of the patient in the long run. Thus, it is crucial to spread awareness about breast cancer and its prevention to maximize the cure rates and minimize the number of new cases. With the advancements in every field, including the medical field, there are high chances of detecting breast cancer early, leading to better management of the disease. Our comprehensive breast clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and technologically advanced machines to guide the patient towards the right diagnosis and treatment plan for any pathological breast condition.

Breast diseases can be categorised into benign or malignant conditions. Benign breast conditions include breast cysts, fibroadenoma, cyclical mastalgia, fibrocystic disease, granulomatous mastitis, and breast abscess.

Classification of Breast Cancers

Depending on their stage, breast cancers can be classified as:

  • Operable breast cancer
    It is used to describe cancers that are limited to the breast tissue and/or its draining lymph nodes on the same side of the body.
  • Locally advanced breast cancer
    Used to describe breast cancers that are relatively larger or have spread to several nearby lymph nodes or surrounding tissues like muscle, skin, or ribs.
  • Metastatic Breast Cancer
    It describes the most advanced stage of breast cancer in which the malignant cells have invaded tissues beyond the local area and nearby lymph nodes.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer

Breast cancer is not symptomatic in earlier stages as its earlier signs are not evident. However, with the progression of the disease, the following symptoms are seen:

  • The first symptom of breast cancer is a breast lump. Most breast lumps are painless; however, some may cause a prickly sensation. Lumps can be seen on a mammogram long before they can be felt or seen.
  • A noticeable indentation or flattening on the breast indicates an invisible tumour.
  • Any change in the texture, contour, or temperature of the breast. A pitted, reddish surface that looks like an orange peel is indicative of advanced breast cancer.
  • A change in the look of the nipple, such as a dimpled or indrawn look, burning or itching or ulceration. Scaling of the nipple indicates localised cancer. The condition is called Paget's disease.
  • Unusual clear or bloody discharge from the nipple. It may sometimes be caused by even benign conditions but more commonly occurs due to cancer.
  • Armpit swelling (due to the swelling of the underlying lymph nodes) suggests the presence of breast cancer.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, you must report them to the breast specialist doctor in Indore as soon as possible.

Breast cancer mortality is decreased by population screening programmes that identify tumours before patients become aware of them since the prognosis of the disease is directly correlated with the stage at diagnosis. Mammography-based breast cancer screening has been demonstrated to lower cause-specific mortality by up to 30% in women over 50. Patients are encouraged to do a self-examination of the breasts every month and undergo a clinical breast examination every 1-3 years after 25 years of age. Specific guidelines for imaging screening:

  • Average-risk asymptomatic women start at 40 years by undergoing an annual mammogram
  • High-risk women start screening at age 25 with an annual mammogram + MRI
  • For asymptomatic women with a previous history of breast cancer, an annual mammogram is recommended.
  • There are no specific guidelines for lactating patients.

Screening of the breast with the help of breast ultrasound, mammography, gene profiling, magnetic resonance imaging and other procedures leads to early detection of breast cancers. This helps the doctors manage the disease better. Apart from diagnostic methods, performing a monthly self-breast exam is the best way to notice abnormal changes in the breast.

Protective factors against Breast Cancer

Early age of first pregnancy, breastfeeding, and multiparity are some of the medically claimed protective factors for Breast Cancer. The main reason behind this is reduction in the overall number of ovulatory cycles, thereby reducing the duration of oestrogen action on the breast tissue.

Treatment of Breast Cancer

Our team of leading oncologists provide the best possible breast cancer treatment in Indore using the most advanced technologies. We understand the patient’s anxiety and realize it is essential to keep them well-informed while determining the best treatment modality suitable to their condition. In our Centre for Cancer, the care of breast cancer patients is undertaken as a joint venture between the medical oncologist, surgeon, radiotherapist and allied health professionals such as support staff. This approach ensures teamwork to give high quality cancer care to the patient.

Our goal is to limit the spread of the disease as little as possible - both locally and distant metastasis. Early breast cancer is usually treated with surgical intervention or without radiotherapy. If the breast cancer has spread to the adjacent lymph nodes, systemic therapy such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy is added. On the other hand, locally advanced or metastatic disease is locally treated by systemic therapy to palate symptoms, with surgery playing a much smaller role.

The other breast conditions for which one should visit the breast clinic are mastitis, breast lumps, fibroadenoma, cysts, and any other condition that gives rise to breast pain or tenderness.

At the Comprehensive Breast Care Unit at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Indore, a caring, multidisciplinary team of experts will help you with all types of breast problems, including complicated breast cancer cases. This team delivers personalised treatment plans considering all your needs in a supportive environment. Our multidisciplinary care brings together experts who collaborate to determine the best sequence and course of therapy for your condition.