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Before deciding on how to handle this illness, the following should be considered:

Medical History: Your doctor would ask you about your medical history in detail. You would be expected to describe your symptoms and past medical happenings. 

Family History: Cancer is a genetic condition. Your oncologist will ask you about your family history regarding the disease.

Reproductive History: Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of this illness in women. You should inform your doctor about your age when you had your first period, your first delivery, your menopause and more. 

Physical examinations: Physical examination would include factors like weight, height, size, shape, appearance, and changes in nipples and breasts.

Lab tests: A wide range of tests would be required to pursue redressal. These include chest X-ray, mammography, CT, ECG, PET and more.

Most cases require a multidisciplinary approach (where various medical specialists work together). Breast cancer treatment is of various kinds. These are:

1. Surgery: Surgery for cancer in mammary glands means removing a part of or the entire breast in order to treat it. Types of surgeries include:

• Lumpectomy- This is also known as breast-conserving surgery. In this surgery, only the affected parts, where cancer is located, is removed. A small area of healthy tissues is also removed.

• Mastectomy- This surgery removes all the tissues in the breast. 

• Sentinel node biopsy- Your lymph nodes may be affected due to breast cancer. Your doctor will discuss with you and recommend this surgery to avoid cancer from spreading to lymph nodes. In this procedure, a small number of lymph nodes from under the arm are also removed. 

• Axillary Lymph node dissection- In this surgery, multiple lymph nodes are removed. If cancer is discovered in sentinel lymph nodes, this surgery is recommended. 

• Removing both breasts: This surgery is based on the patient’s choice. To prevent cancer from spreading, people choose to get both breasts (healthy and unhealthy) removed. 

2. Radiation Therapy: In this treatment method, large amounts of energy waves are radiated at the patient’s body. There are three types of radiation therapy-

• External beam radiation therapy- A machine is used to project radiations to the patient’s body. 

• Intra-operative radiation therapy- An operation to expose energy beams inside a patient’s body. 

• Brachytherapy- Another technique is to place radioactive material inside the body. 

Radiation therapy can be performed after lumpectomy or mastectomy to prevent the recurrence of cancer. 

3. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is suggested by doctors to complete the treatment after surgery. This method uses medicines to kill fast-growing cancerous cells. If the size of the tumor in the affected region is very large, chemotherapy is used as a prior option. It is done to shrink the tumor’s size so that surgery can be performed.

4. Hormone Therapy: This therapy is used in cases where the cancerous cells in the mammary gland are sensitive to hormones. This therapy makes use of medications to block hormones that support cancer cell's growth. This therapy can be used by doctors before or after surgery, depending on the patient’s condition.

5. Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy is used to kill deceased cells by targeting abnormalities within those cells. These abnormalities include specific genes, proteins, tissues of a cancer cell.

Cancer care is a long term process. After the health is restored, you should expect the following:

• Visits to the doctors

• Post-surgery Mammograms 

• Pelvic Exams

• Lab Tests 

• Bone Density Tests

Since there is a range of treatments, possible risks posed by them would differ. The following list includes common risks:

• Infection

• Lymphedema

• Scar tissue around the implant 

• Fatigue

• Bleeding

• Sleep problems 

• Depression

• Heart damage

• Swelling of breasts

• Breast tenderness

For more information on breast cancer treatment cost in Chennai, contact Credihealth Medical Experts at 8010-994-994.