Post Surgery Care
“Do I need more treatment?”
“How do I Follow-up after treatment?”
“How will Support Group help me?”
After the Surgery
After surgery, we will discuss the pathology report with you and your family. We discuss all post-operative cases at weekly MDT meetings for further Chemotherapy and Radiation planning to ensure optimal management in all cases.
Our Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) includes Surgical Oncologist, Radiologists, Pathologists, Medical and Radiation oncologists, Physiotherapist and other staff.
Additional treatment Options:
• Begins 4 – 8 weeks after surgery
• Chemotherapy can last from 4-6 months
• Radiation can last 3-5 weeks
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill or disrupt the growth of cancer cells. These drugs can be administered by injection, a drip or as tablets, and can be given alone or used in combination with other types of treatment.
You might have chemotherapy:
- to shrink a cancer before surgery
- to try to stop cancer coming back after surgery or radiotherapy
- as a treatment on its own, if your type of cancer is very sensitive to it
- to treat cancer that has spread from where it first started.
Will I need Chemotherapy?
A question which haunts each and every patient of breast cancer. Losing of hair and fear of chemotherapy go hand in hand. Nothing affects an identity of a woman more than losing her hair. And also, patients’ have heard so much about side effects of chemotherapy most of which is actually not true. When I talk to my own patients after their entire chemo is over, even they tell me, it was not at all that bad.
The role of chemotherapy is very crucial, in those where it is indicated. It attacks the cancer cells moving around in the body, and reduces the chances of cancer coming back.
So please remove the bias against chemotherapy from your minds, and have a correct information from your medical oncologist.
Will I lose my hair permanently?
Absolutely not! Hair loss is a temporary phase. All the hair is going to come back once the chemo cycles are over.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation Therapy is a ‘loco regional’ treatment, it is targeted over the area of the breast (chest wall) and over the collar bone, it attacks those cells in these regions potentially becoming cancerous.
Radiation is given by a machine (which looks like the many scan machines) which is managed by the Radiation Oncologist.
Is Radiation Therapy painful?
Radiation Therapy is not painful, it can cause slight darkening of the skin.
Follow up care after treatment
It is normal to have concerns about the cancer coming back after completion of treatment. We will relieve your anxiety and will discuss the followup plan.
The standard time interval we ask the patient to visit us is (from the time of completion of treatment) :
• First 2 years: Every 3 or 4 months
• Next 3 years: Every 6 months
• After that: Every year
Regular history, physical examination, and mammography are done for breast cancer follow-up. Getting regular check-ups with your family doctor is also important. The use of CT scan, PET CT Scan, MRI, and/or tumor markers is not recommended for routine follow-up in an otherwise asymptomatic patient.
Support Group
“We are with you”
Cancer affects your physical body as well as your psychological and emotional health. We understand that right from the time of diagnosis and onwards, during the prolonged treatment stage, cancer patients have bouts of anxiety and depression. There is a fear of the unknown and a sense of vacuum.
Our support group provides a platform for:
• Interaction in person or online,
• Providing hope to newly diagnosed patients
• Providing care to the affected family and friends
• Guidance on healthy diet , fitness and yoga for breast cancer survivors
• Educating anyone wishing to know more on breast cancer and its treatment
• Cancer survivors share their stories as to how they conquered the disease.
Seeing other women, who have completed their treatment and are fine now, gives an immense moral boost to those undergoing treatment, apart from the guidance and tips during the treatment phase.
Online Counselling
We understand that cancer patients and their family feels need to talk things through in confidence with someone who understands the emotional challenges of cancer.
• We also understand how to address these emotional challenges.
• An experienced Counsellor or Psychologist can help you find ways to face the challenges ahead.
• Please write your problems or worries and our counsellors shall discuss these with you.
• Rest assured that all information shared will be kept strictly confidential.
