How is the treatment for breast cancer?

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Cancer treatment is multidisciplinary and many people will be involved. There will be support from doctors, nurses, and also other health professionals who can help, such as: psychologists, physiotherapists, nutritionists and social workers, all of them trained to support.

The mastologist is the doctor who guides the diagnosis and performs surgeries. He will work with the other members of your medical team, make a surgical report, your personal physician, clinical oncologist and radio oncologist, who will jointly determine your future treatment plan. It is recommended that cases are always discussed by the team.

Plastic surgeon is the specialist in reconstructive surgery, who performs operations to reconstruct parts of the body affected by injuries, diseases or cancer treatments. The plastic surgeon may perform breast reconstruction procedures during the initial surgery, or at a second time.

Clinical Oncologist is the specialist in cancer drug care and treatments. He will guide the clinical treatment and will be in contact with other members of your medical team. The oncologist will follow up throughout the treatment.

Radio oncologist is the doctor who treats cancer with radiation (high power x-rays). He will decide what type and how much radiation he should receive after breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy, or how to manage advanced breast cancer.

A radiologist is a physician who has special training in the use of x-rays, mammography, ultrasound and other imaging procedures. The radiology images and results can aid in diagnosis, in locating tumors during surgery and radiotherapy treatment, in addition to helping to clarify and determine the extent of the disease

A pathologist is the doctor who diagnoses disease by examining tissue and fluid samples. It will determine the classification (cell type), help determine the stage (extent) of the cancer, and make a pathology report for you and your doctor to decide on treatment options.

Physiotherapist is the professional who helps you regain strength and movement after surgery. You can use massage, lymphatic drainage, exercises to restore and maintain the strength, functioning and flexibility of the body.

Nutritionist provides assistance in relation to the prescription, planning, analysis and supervision of food diets.

Psychologist or psycho-oncologist provides psychological support to patients, their families, caregivers and accompanying staff. Its function is to prepare to better face the disease process, both from a physical and emotional point of view, providing conditions for the patient to deal better with depressive processes, anxieties, social relationships, fears; in short, common feelings in people who are affected by breast cancer. It also works with professionals in the area and aims to prepare them to better deal with the processes of illness and death.

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The International Society of Senology (SIS) and other important international organizations have established:

“ALL WOMEN IN THE WORLD WITH BREAST PATHOLOGY MUST HAVE ACCESS TO DEDICATED, MULTIDISCIPLINARY BREAST CENTERS, WELL EQUIPPED, WITH QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE COMPETENT AND INTEGRATED CARE”.