Overview

Breast cancer is a mass or masses of cancerous cells formed in mammary ducts and lobules. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer that kills women worldwide and the most frequently treated disease among foreign patients in Korea. It is rather seen as a disease formed with multiple risk factors (Family history, longtime exposure to estrogen, increasing age, experience of delivery and breast feeding, exposure to radiation, and environmental factors)

Symptoms

• Palpable mass in the breast region (feels thick, or different compare to surrounding tissue)
• Notable changes in the breast shape, size and nipple. -Rarely discharge from nipple can be seen

Treatments

1. Breast Cancer Surgery

Removal of breast cancer could either be partially (lumpectomy) or entirely done (mastectomy) depending of patient's cancer status. Breast reconstruction with silicone implant and water implant during or after surgery is also possible. Patient may undergo lymph node removal in case of cancer spreading in lymph nodes.

1) Process of procedure

• Patients may also receive chemotherapy and radiation therapy along with surgery.
• Begin general anesthesia
• Give an incision to the breast
• Remove cancer tissue as well as its surrounding tissue
• If patient has cancer spreading lymph nodes, it will be removed under patient's consent
• Suture the incision with delicate care
• Breast reconstruction may be performed under patient's consent

2) Expected duration of hospital stay

• Generally expected hospitalization period is 1~3days including surgery time. This may differ by case.

3) Post-operative care

• The patient will be monitored thoroughly in the recovery unit to ensure that he or she is free of complications (bleeding, difficulty in breathing, abnormal vital signs).
• Patient may get a drain under the operated area which will be removed within a day.

4) Ideal outcomes

• Cancer tissues are clearly removed.
• Patient does not require secondary surgery

5) Risks

• Bleeding, infection, fluid accumulation in the operated site, problems with wound healing, lymphedema (swelling of arms)

6) Treatment cost

• Expected cost ranges from to.

2. Chemotherapy

Usually applied as a supportive treatment to surgery and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy is delivered via pills and intravenous injection. It significantly decreases cancer recurrence and metastasis. And it treats recurred or metastasized cancer.

1) Process of procedure

• Chemotherapy is usually given at outpatient clinic if it is an IV injection (more common way), or taken at home as pills
• Many patients get a vascular access device which enables safe practice of chemotherapy in their chest.
• Fasting is required on the day of treatment
• Receive medical examination of vital signs
• Receive chemotherapy via IV
• Recheck vital signs
• Consult about side effects with doctor
• Receive prescribed medication and instructions of after chemotherapy

2) Expected duration of treatment

• Generally hospital visiting period is every once a week or once in three weeks (depending on patient's recovery time)
• Chemotherapy is delivered through three to six months for early stage cancer, and beyond six months for advanced cancer. It can vary depending on patient's condition

3) Ideal outcomes

• Matastasis of cancer is prevented.
• The size of cancer mass reduces in accordance with the therapy.

4) Risks

• Nausea, fatigue, loss of hair, inhibited production of blood and blood cells from bone marrow, decreased white blood cells, fever, infection, mouth sores and damage in gastrointestinal tract, severe pain, and infertility

3. Radiation therapy

Ionized radiations such as X-ray, protons or others are irradiated partially or entirely on the breast to remove cancer cells. It reduces recurrence of cancer after surgery. As it shrinks the size of cancer, is also effective in relieving symptoms.

1) Process of procedure

• Radiation therapy with lumpectomy is considered as a breast conservational therapy. * Radiation can be irradiated from outside of body or inside the body while patient is undergoing surgery

2) Expected duration of treatment

• Generally radiation therapy is delivered to patient five times a week for about five to six weeks (depending on patient's condition)

3) Ideal outcomes

• Metastasis of cancer is prevented. * The size of cancer mass reduces in accordance with the therapy.

4) Risks

• Fatigue, skin may get irritated, swelling of breast and differed skin sensation may occur.

5) Treatment cost

• Expected cost ranges from to.