dr amulya mullapudi

Breast Cancer Treatment in Vijayawada

WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?

Cancer is growth of abnormal cells in the body, uncontrolled multiplication of these abnormal cells creates a lump. Cancer = malignancy = carcinoma = tumour Breast cancer is commonly known to originate from the cells in the milk producing glands and ducts. In case you feel or diagnose any kind of lumps or abnormalities in the breast, consult Dr. Amulya Mullapudi immediately. We are offering breast cancer treatment from our location to people who are living in and around Guntur, Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Gudivada, Tadepalligudem, Tanuku, Bhimavaram, Palakollu and Narsapuram.

WHAT CAUSES OF BREAST CANCER?

The cause of breast cancer in 75% of women is not known. Lifestyle & habits like alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity and prolonged exposure to hormones (early periods/ late first pregnancy/ late menopause) account for 10 to 15% of cancers. Five to ten percentage of breast cancers are genetic in origin. There are some common symptoms that frequently appear during breast cancer diagnosis in Vijayawada.

BREAST SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE ATTENTION:

  • 1) An unusual change in the size, shape or contour of your breast.
  • 2) Feeling a small lump or mass in the breast.
  • 3) A lump or thickening in the breast or underarm present all the time even after periods end.
  • 4) Inflamed, scaly, puckered or dimpled skin of the breast.
  • 5) Redness of the skin on your breast or nipple areola
  • 6) Any area that feels or looks different from the rest of the breast.
  • 7) Feeling a rock solid area/ hardness underneath your skin.
  • 8) Discharge from the nipples or a blood staining.
  • 9) Wound/ ulcer on the breast.

BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS

When a woman presents with breast symptoms, details regarding her complaints and history are noted followed by a clinical examination of the breasts. Mammography and/or ultrasound of the breasts are performed to arrive at a clinical diagnosis. MRI of the breast may be required for further evaluation in a few cases.

Best breast cancer doctors in Vijayawada use Breast imaging to confirm the presence of a lump. The appearance of the lump on imaging combined with the history and helps decide the need for further investigation. In cases, where the lump appears suspicious, and a tissue sample will be required to determine the nature of the lump. Tissue diagnosis is obtained through a core needle biopsy which is routinely done with ultrasound guidance under local anaesthesia.

Clinical examination, mammogram with ultrasound scan and needle biopsy comprise the triple test for breast lump assessment.

A brief about the imaging modalities available for breast cancer evaluation

  • 1) Mammogram: A mammogram is an imaging test or a special x-ray, used to detect any abnormal changes or lumps in the breasts. When there is a palpable lump in one breast, it is important to make sure the other breast is clear on mammogram before planning treatment for the abnormal breast.
  • 2) Ultrasonography: This process also helps to diagnose breast abnormalities such as lumps but with the help of intensive sound waves. The sound waves hit the tissues and are transferred back to the probe which forms an image on the monitor. Ultrasound scans are done to look at the size and characteristics of a breast lump and to guide core needle biopsies. Also used to assess the axilla (underarm).
  • 3) PET-CT scan: Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography scan is done by injecting a nuclear dye into the veins, which highlights the suspicious areas in the body. Then images are taken by PET scanner and combined with x-ray computed images, which show the abnormal areas as bright spots. PET-CT is used to determine the stage of breast cancer.
  • 4) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Breasts: MRI utilises electromagnetic waves to detect any changes in the breast tissues. The use of contrast dye with MRI further enhances the details, providing optimal images. MRI may be used to plan breast conservation surgery or lumpectomy and also to monitor response to treatment in some cases.

When the breast lump is proven to be malignant, the exact size of the tumour, number, position, the lymph nodes in the axilla, spread to other organs, need to be established, with further imaging to help with treatment planning and management to avail best breast cancer treatment in Vijayawada.