Breast Cancer from Detection to Treatment
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer happens when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the breast tissue.
It commonly starts in:
Milk ducts | ductal carcinoma
Milk-producing lobules | lobular carcinoma
Can also occur in the nipple, fatty tissue, or lymph nodes
Main types include:
Invasive ductal carcinoma
Invasive lobular carcinoma
Ductal carcinoma in situ - early stage
Triple-negative breast cancer
HER2-positive breast cancer
Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer | ER/PR+
Breast cancer is common but highly treatable when detected early.
Breast cancer happens when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the breast tissue.
It commonly starts in:
Milk ducts | ductal carcinoma
Milk-producing lobules | lobular carcinoma
Can also occur in the nipple, fatty tissue, or lymph nodes
Main types include:
Invasive ductal carcinoma
Invasive lobular carcinoma
Ductal carcinoma in situ - early stage
Triple-negative breast cancer
HER2-positive breast cancer
Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer | ER/PR+
Breast cancer is common but highly treatable when detected early.
1. Initial Detection / Scanning
Self-exams:
Patient notices a lump
Nipple discharge
Skin changes
Breast pain
Clinical breast exam:
Performed by a doctor.
Imaging tests:
Mammogram
Breast ultrasound
Breast MRI
Self-exams:
Patient notices a lump
Nipple discharge
Skin changes
Breast pain
Clinical breast exam:
Performed by a doctor.
Imaging tests:
Mammogram
Breast ultrasound
Breast MRI
2. Diagnostic Testing
Biopsies
Fine-needle aspiration
Core needle biopsy
Surgical (excisional) biopsy
Pathology checks
Cancer type
Grade
Receptor testing
Genomic testing
Biopsies
Fine-needle aspiration
Core needle biopsy
Surgical (excisional) biopsy
Pathology checks
Cancer type
Grade
Receptor testing
Genomic testing
3. Staging
Imaging
Chest X-ray / CT scan
Bone scan
PET-CT
MRI
Staging system
Stage 0 - in situ (non-invasive).
Stage I–III - localized or regional spread.
Stage IV - metastatic (distant organs).
Imaging
Chest X-ray / CT scan
Bone scan
PET-CT
MRI
Staging system
Stage 0 - in situ (non-invasive).
Stage I–III - localized or regional spread.
Stage IV - metastatic (distant organs).
4. Treatment Options
➛ Surgery
Lumpectomy
removes tumor plus margin.
Mastectomy
removal of entire breast.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
checks first lymph node(s) for spread.
Axillary lymph node dissection
if cancer has spread to many nodes.
Breast reconstruction may be done immediately or later.
➛ Radiation Therapy
• Usually after lumpectomy, sometimes after mastectomy.
• External beam radiation to breast/chest wall and lymph nodes.
➛ Systemic Therapy
Hormone therapy
Tamoxifen
Aromatase inhibitors
Targeted therapy
HER2-positive cancers → trastuzumab, pertuzumab, etc.
Chemotherapy
Often for triple-negative, HER2-positive, or high-risk cancers.
Immunotherapy
Checkpoint inhibitors used in some triple-negative cancers.
➛ Surgery
Lumpectomy
removes tumor plus margin.
Mastectomy
removal of entire breast.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy
checks first lymph node(s) for spread.
Axillary lymph node dissection
if cancer has spread to many nodes.
Breast reconstruction may be done immediately or later.
➛ Radiation Therapy
• Usually after lumpectomy, sometimes after mastectomy.
• External beam radiation to breast/chest wall and lymph nodes.
➛ Systemic Therapy
Hormone therapy
Tamoxifen
Aromatase inhibitors
Targeted therapy
HER2-positive cancers → trastuzumab, pertuzumab, etc.
Chemotherapy
Often for triple-negative, HER2-positive, or high-risk cancers.
Immunotherapy
Checkpoint inhibitors used in some triple-negative cancers.
5. Advanced / Metastatic Disease
Goal shifts from cure to control and symptom relief.
Treatments may include:
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation
• Surgery (palliative).
Goal shifts from cure to control and symptom relief.
Treatments may include:
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation
• Surgery (palliative).
6. Follow-Up and Monitoring
➛ Regular monitoring: Every 3–6 months for first 3 years, then yearly.
➛ Annual mammogram on remaining breast tissue.
➛ Bone density tests (if on aromatase inhibitors).
➛ Lifestyle changes:
Exercise
Healthy diet
Limit alcohol
No smoking.
➛ Regular monitoring: Every 3–6 months for first 3 years, then yearly.
➛ Annual mammogram on remaining breast tissue.
➛ Bone density tests (if on aromatase inhibitors).
➛ Lifestyle changes:
Exercise
Healthy diet
Limit alcohol
No smoking.
Read More
➛ Step by Step Overview
➛ Patient's Appeal
➛ Patients’ Stories
➛ Transparency Page
➛ Volunteer / Partner Page