Лечение рака молочной железы

Breast cancer is one of the most common oncological diseases: according to statistics, it occurs in 9-12% of women, and in rare cases, it affects men. The treatment of breast cancer in Israel  using the most effective medical strategies is carried out in the oncology department of the Herzliya Medical Center private clinic. Timely diagnosis of breast cancer and individually selected treatment allow in most cases to succeed. The probability of recovery of patients with breast cancer in the initial stage is more than 90%.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor of glandular tissue. The primary tumor focus is defined as a seal in the mammary gland, distinguishable by palpation. Other signs of breast cancer include:

• Deformation and resizing of the mammary gland;
• Retraction of the nipple;
• Change in skin: redness, the appearance of «orange peel»;
• Bloody discharge from the nipple.

Breast Cancer Diagnosis

In order to diagnose breast cancer, the following checks are performed:

• Mammography;
• Ultrasound
• MRI
• Tumor biopsy.

Breast biopsy

Breast biopsy  — obtaining a sample of tumor tissue and its subsequent histological and immunohistochemical analysis — is an extremely informative study. The benefits of this procedure include:

• The presence of malignant cells in the sample makes it possible to unequivocally confirm the diagnosis of breast cancer;
• Based on a biopsy, a histological type of tumor is diagnosed (ductal carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, etc.), which largely determines the course and prognosis of the disease;
• The ability to test the tumor for estrogen and progesterone receptors, HER 2 receptor expression, and so on. This allows you to make your breast cancer treatment plan in Israel more effective.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy

A sentinel lymph node biopsy allows doctors to determine whether cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes. In the case of breast cancer, 1-3 lymph nodes from the axillary region are removed in order to conduct a pathological analysis. If there are no cancer cells in these nodes, doctors may suggest that breast cancer has not yet spread to the lymphatic system. To identify the sentinel site, the surgeon injects a safe radioactive contrast agent into the mammary gland, immediately next to the tumor. During the operation, the surgeon focuses on the radiation or color of the site.

As part of the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in Israel, genetic testing is also being carried out: an analysis to determine the mutations in  the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes . The presence of a mutation in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes indicates the hereditary nature of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Treatment in Israel

Surgery

The scale of the surgical intervention is determined by the size of the tumor, the degree of its infiltration into the surrounding tissue and the presence of malignant cells in the regional lymph nodes. If the tumor is small in diameter, there is the possibility of performing a lumpectomy — resection of the tumor while preserving the mammary gland. With large tumors, a mastectomy  is performed  — a radical removal of the mammary gland. When lymph nodes are involved in the malignant process, they are dissected.

After a mastectomy, breast reconstruction is possible using the patient’s own tissues or a synthetic implant. Depending on medical indications, reconstruction is performed immediately, as part of a mastectomy, or is postponed to a later date.

Chemotherapy

Adjuvant (postoperative) chemotherapy is prescribed to most patients after mastectomy. The goal of  chemotherapy  is to destroy cancer cells and prevent local recurrence. In the later stages of breast cancer, chemotherapy is used as a means of combating metastases. Neoadjuvant (preoperative) chemotherapy is used to treat large tumors: it causes their regression and facilitates radical removal.

Hormone therapy

In some patients, cancer cells are hormone-dependent, that is, they have hormone receptors estrogen and progesterone. To influence hormone-dependent tumors, drugs are used that block cancer cell receptors or suppress the natural synthesis of estrogen in the body.

Targeted (targeted) therapy

Some cancers are characterized by overexpression of the HER2 receptor, which plays an important role in the growth of malignant cells. Targeted drugs (for example, Herceptin, Lapatinib, etc.) have the ability to bind to this receptor and irreversibly disrupt the life of cancer cells. In the best private clinic in Israel, Herzliya Medical Center, targeted therapy has been successfully used as an effective treatment for breast cancer.

COST OF DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER

Specialist consultation and diagnostic procedures start at $ 4,000.

The cost of treatment (if necessary):

• Operation — from $ 10,800;
• Chemotherapy — from $ 2,000 per course.

The Story of Marina S.

The history of the Herzliya Medical Center private clinic counts hundreds of happy cases of achieving persistent remission in breast cancer. After the treatment is received, the patients remain under medical supervision and go to the clinic to undergo a follow-up examination or get specialist advice. Looking at these beautiful and young women — alas, breast cancer has become “younger” — it is impossible to believe that in the past they faced such difficult trials. Talking about their recovery, many patients call it miraculous, and doctors call it wizards.

The story of Marina is one example of the fact that miracles in medicine only happen when they are supported by the professionalism of doctors, effective cancer treatment methods  in Israel  and, of course, the patient’s willingness to fight the disease.

Recently, Marina turned 50 years old. A year later, her son Alexander is finishing school, and her daughter Natasha is going to get married. “Now I am making plans for the future,” says Marina, “and four years ago I was afraid of him. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I really wanted to see my children grow up, and suddenly I realized that maybe I would have no chance for this.”

Marina independently discovered a seal in the mammary gland and hastened to consult a surgeon. After the biopsy, the medical verdict was disappointing — invasive ductal cancer. A mastectomy was required to remove the tumor.

A mastectomy operation was performed at the Herzliya Medical Center clinic. There, Marina underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy. “It was a difficult time,” recalls Marina, “I endured treatment very hard. But doctors and nurses convinced me that I had to fight to the end. They did everything possible and impossible. And they won. ”

Then, Marina had yet another operation: in the department of plastic surgeons at the Herzliya Medical Center clinic, she underwent breast reconstruction. “I am infinitely grateful to the doctors,” says Marina, “they gave me a second life, and this is a truly invaluable gift.”