Breast Cancer Myths and Facts Dr. Poonam Goyal, Radiation Oncologist

Dr. Poonam Goyal, Radiation Oncologist

Breast cancer is a physical and emotional aspect of women … Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women. About 30% of breast cancer cases worldwide are from India, and about 50% of breast cancer mortality is from India. The most common reasons behind this disparity are delayed and incomplete diagnosis and untreated due to the havoc caused by certain myths of our society.

Ignorance of the most common risk factors-

Smoking, drinking, obesity, late marriage, late childbirth, no birth

No or minimal breastfeeding, hormone therapy, etc.

Unconscious about signs and symptoms

• Breast lump (painless and painful)
• Changes in skin, shape, size and color
• Abnormal secretions from the nipple
• Armpit lump.

Myth about breast cancer

It is an illness of older women. No … that’s not true .. Currently, it is statistically given that even cases in the age group of 20-30 years present with breast cancer. Juveniles mainly show a poor prognosis. From the viewpoint of aggressive pathology, unfavorable molecular typing, the possibility of metastasis is high and the recurrence rate is high.

FNAC / BIOPSY is harmful / disease epidemic

It is a very common myth, which often delays diagnosis. Fnac / biopsy is a form of tissue sampling performed for correct diagnosis, typing, individualized treatment plans, and administrative decisions … and they are fairly safe …

Family history is important

5-10% of breast cancer cases have a positive family history … If there is a family history, self-breast examination, clinical breast examination, and MRI or ultrasound or mammogram screening should be considered.

Mammograms are harmful

Mammograms are non-invasive tools for detecting the earliest structural changes in the breast. This procedure provides a safe and tolerable dose of radiation. Mammogram screening is recommended for all women after the age of 45 each year.

All lumps are malignant

Breast lumps can be infectious / benign / malignant Only from the perspective of cancer should be treated for malignant lumps … to see if the lumps are malignant, pt is MRI, mammogram, etc. Must undergo specific invasive or non-invasive treatment, BIOPSY / FNA CETC.

All lumps are painful

Many women keep this idea that only painful lumps are cancerous, but this is not true. The first lump is always painless as it grows in size later. Therefore, even painless or lumps need to be dealt with with similar concerns.

Available treatments

Surgical chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy

Surgical progress

Currently, breast-conserving therapy is an advanced method of organ-conserving, and the selected patient set removes only cancerous lumps while preserving the remaining breast tissue. This is supported by radiation therapy and chemotherapy / immunotherapy.

Hair loss after treatment

Patients lose scalp hair during chemotherapy, but this change is only temporary. After 3-6 months of treatment, the hair will re-grow naturally. There is no hair loss on the scalp during radiation therapy.

Advances in radiation therapy

Recent advanced linear accelerators have led to the development of many new techniques to help patients treat patients by maximizing tumor healing and minimizing toxicity to the underlying structure. Some of them are ABC (BREATH HOLDING TECHNIQUE), VMAT, ARCH THERAPY, stereotactic radiotherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy.

Skin burns after irradiation

Recent advances in radiation therapy technology and the latest linear accelerators have kept the texture of the skin during and after radiation exposure unchanged, minimized, and relieved within days of the end of treatment.

Do Elderly Patients Need Treatment –

Basically, there is no age to define what is important as a general condition and additional comorbidity of the patient. If it is good, all patients are suitable for treatment. Certain modality changes depending on the patient’s age, general condition, and associated comorbidity.

Does Stage 4 Need Treatment?

Stage 4 is called when the tumor has spread to distant areas such as the brain, bones, liver, and lungs. In such cases, if the disease is metastatic (small number), a curative approach is still feasible. Stereotactic resection radiation therapy is a highly defined method of treatment in such types of cases, with very careful selection of patients. Targeted / immunotherapy is also a way to improve the quality and quantity of life for such patients.

Possibility of recurrence

Statistically, it has been shown that cancer has an equal chance of recurrence in the opposite breast to a living cancer patient compared to someone who has never had breast cancer.

Follow-up schedule-

All women after the age of 20 from the 10th to the 14th day of the menstrual cycle are required to have a self-breast examination. Mammogram screening is recommended annually after age 45. If the family history is positive – MRI / ultrasound breast screening can be considered after age 25 years.

Takeaway message The incidence of cancer is increasing. It is now one of the most common causes of death. The need for time is self-breast examination, awareness of screening programs / methods, early detection and rituals and complete treatment with an appropriate follow-up schedule maintained according to rituals and advice.

Dr. Poonam Goyal

Radiation oncologist

Senior Advisor

Manipearl Hospital, Jaipur