The incidence of breast cancer has been steadily rising over the last three decades. The latest data shows that a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every four minutes and a woman dies of the disease every 13 minutes in India. Experts said lack of awareness, absence of systematic screening programmes and unavailability of good diagnostic centres in rural areas are the main reasons behind the steady surge in breast cancer cases.
What is Brest Cancer?
Breast cancer refers to cancer that develops in the cells of the breasts. This type of cancer typically forms in either the lobules or the ducts of the breast. Breast cancer is far more common in women, although it can also occur in men. Worldwide, advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer have helped improve survival rates dramatically. Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai Oncology Department offers comprehensive care for all types of breast cancer. Our centre is well-equipped with high-end technology and equipment to provide the latest methods of cancer screening and ensure the accurate diagnosis of the disease. Using a range of advanced diagnostic tests such as pathology lab tests (tumour markers), imaging tests such as mammography, ultrasonography and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), our experts can help detect cancer at the early stages, paving the way for crucial decisions regarding treatment. The hospital offers life-changing care through multiple modes of treatment based on an individual patient’s physical, social and emotional status. Using a collaborative approach, our oncology team of experts comprising of various departments such as general & laparoscopic surgery, neurology, orthopaedic surgery and plastic surgery arrive at a customised therapy plan, depending on the stage and type of malignancy.
Fortis Mumbai - Best Hospitals for Breast Cancer Treatment in Mumbai, India
At Fortis, patients can avail multiple leading-edge and combination treatment options in the areas of medical care (chemotherapy, immunotherapy), radiation therapy (brachytherapy) and surgical care (lumpectomy, mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection). The use of an evidence-based approach in patient care has enabled us to be a leader in the city for excellent clinical and surgical outcomes, at par with international standards.
Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Following are some tests and procedures that may be used to diagnose breast cancer:
Breast exam: Your doctor will check the breasts for lumps and other abnormalities.
Mammogram: A type of X-ray that produces images, helping a doctor detect any lumps or abnormalities.
Ultrasound: This scan uses sound waves to help a doctor differentiate between a solid mass such as a tumour and a fluid-filled cyst.
Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI combines different images of the breast to help a doctor identify breast cancer.
Breast biopsy: Your doctor extracts a tissue sample from the suspicious area to have it tested for cancer.
Breast Cancer Treatment
After breast cancer is diagnosed, your doctor will work to establish the extent (stage) of your cancer. Staging breast cancer helps determine a person’s chances of recovery and the best treatment options.
As a frontrunner in breast cancer treatment in Mumbai, Fortis offers a variety of treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy drugs, etc.
The type of treatments you receive will depend on various factors, including -
the type and stage of the cancer
the person’s age, overall health and preferences
whether cancer cells are sensitive to hormones, etc.
1. Surgery: Several types of surgery may be used to remove cancer, including:
Lumpectomy - this procedure removes the tumour and a small amount of surrounding tissue, leaving the rest of the breast intact.
Mastectomy - this procedure involves removing the entire breast.
Other surgical procedures include sentinel node biopsy, axillary lymph node dissection, and reconstruction.
2. Chemotherapy: Often used along with other treatments, especially surgery, it is a drug treatment used to kill cancer cells.
3. Radiation therapy: It uses high doses of radiation to target and kill cancer cells.
4. Hormone therapy: It slows or stops the growth of cancer cells using hormones to grow.
5. Immunotherapy: It uses your immune system to fight cancer
6. Targeted therapy: It uses drugs to destroy specific abnormalities within cancer cells.
Our care team in consultation with the patient creates a customised treatment plan based on the clinical condition, type, and stage of cancer.
Breast Cancer Specialists at Fortis Hospital Mumbai
Fortis has one of the largest and most experienced practices in India. Our multi-disciplinary team of experts skilled in dozens of specialties work together to ensure quality care and successful recovery throughout your cancer journey:
Well-trained oncology nurses, radiotherapists, physiotherapists, clinical nutritionists, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, etc.
The team works closely with neurologists, anaesthetists, intensive care specialists, infectious diseases specialists, pathologists, radiologists and clinical pharmacologists.
Why Choose Fortis Hospital Mumbai for Breast Cancer Treatment in Mumbai, India?
Fortis Hospitals Mumbai is a frontrunner in the treatment of breast cancer in Mumbai. Breast cancer treatment offered at Fortis Hospitals Mumbai encompasses the entire range of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and surgery. Among the surgical options, lumpectomy or removal of the tumour in the breast and mastectomy, partial and total, to remove part of, or, the entire cancerous breast is the most effective.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and say ‘thank you’ to all the doctors and nursing staff who took care of me and helped me complete my treatment for breast cancer while as a patient in the Chemotherapy Daycare Center at Fortis Hospital, Mulund. Thank you, Dr Arun Behl and Dr Boman Dhabar for your motivation, patience, kindness, and most of all, your exceptional skills and excellent care which saved my life.
FAQ
Who is the best doctor to operate on breast cancer at Fortis Hospital Mulund, Mumbai?
Dr Anil Heroor, a senior onco surgeon and Head of Surgical Oncology at Fortis Hospital Mulund is one of the top cancer surgeons in the city with more than 20 years experience in performing over 10,000 successful cancer surgeries. He has the exceptional expertise and dexterity in handling complex breast cancer surgeries with high precision. His goal is to remove the cancerous part of your breast as much as possible to relieve you of the pain and discomfort from the disease. He ensures that you are in his safe hands and aims to aid your speedy recovery in comfort so you can get back to your routine safely in his care.
How urgent is breast cancer surgery? Should you wait for a second opinion?
Having breast cancer does not mean you should immediately have surgery. Our skilled oncologists at Fortis Hospital Mulund suggest waiting for a few weeks, unless the tumour is weighing down another organ or has spread to other parts of your body. This gives you time to learn more about your diagnosis and condition. And when you have the most capable and skilled oncologists at Fortis Hospital Mulund guiding you towards the right decision, a second opinion is just not required.
Can someone have breast cancer and not know? What are the signs and symptoms we shouldn't ignore and reach the best breast cancer hospital?
Since all cancers manifest differently in different people, it’s the same with breast cancer too. So, you might not know you have breast cancer because there may not be any noticeable symptoms. The most common signs and symptoms of breast cancer are:
A lump or lumps in the breast or underarm area
Breast pain
Swelling of the entire breast or part of it
Skin irritation or dimpling of the breast
Nipple pain or inverted nipple (turning inwards)
Nipple discharge (not breast milk)
Thickening of the nipple or breast skin
Redness and scaliness of the nipple or breast skin
Why Fortis Hospital, Mumbai is the best cancer hospital in India?
At Fortis Hospital Mulund, our cancer care department adopts the best policies in cancer detection and treatment. We have an oncology team of the highest caliber to prescribe the most effective treatment methodology in an environment of comfort. They brainstorm on individual cancer cases to discern and determine efficacious modes of treatment that include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, stem cell transplants and surgery. Their diagnostic and surgical prowess is ably complemented by the state of the art labs and operation theaters that make Fortis Hospital Mulund a leader in cancer care.
Reasons why Fortis Mumbai is the best technically advanced breast cancer hospital for complex cases?
For quick and precise breast cancer detection, Fortis Hospital Mulund is equipped with the highly advanced medical technology. Right from having high precision MRI, CT scans and ultrasound imaging equipment to the 3D Mammography machines, Fortis Hospital Mulund is a leader in breast cancer screening infrastructure. Radiation therapy requires extremely efficient and modern technology to administer high beams of energy to shrink the cancer cells in the breast. In this too, Fortis Hospital Mulund has the most sophisticated 3-D Conformal Radiation technology. This enables our trained radiation oncologist to direct higher levels of radiation precisely onto the cancerous tumour in the breast without affecting the surrounding organs or tissues.
