FAQs On BCT

Addition of hormonal therapy depends on tumour biology which varies from patient to patient. All patients of breast cancer who have ER/PR receptors positive in final histopathology report are put on some form of hormonal therapy for 5 to 10 years.

Radiation therapy is started sequentialy after completion of chemotherapy ( if indicated ). Radiation therapy usually lasts for 4 – 6 weeks so you need to stay in mumbai for the period or plan radiation at a good centre near your hometown.

This decision varies from patient to patient, depending on the age, general condition of patient, tumour biology and the overall stage of disease.

First follow up visit is in between day 7 to day 10 when the histopathology report is ready. Stitch removal and drain removal is done during this visit. An informed decision is taken regarding adjuvant (further ) treatment.

Usually all oral medications are started by the evening of surgery, unless otherwise specified by the surgical team.

Liquids are usually started 6 hours after surgery. You can have a light dinner on the day of surgery. From the next day, there are no restrictions on diet, whatever diet you were having in the preoperative period can be started.

You can have a bath after 48 hours from surgery. Daily dressings are not encouraged. You need to have daily bath with soap and then dry the suture area using a soft towel. If there is any change in colour of the suture site or any discharge from the suture site […]

Patients are usually discharged with a drain in the axilla (tubing coming out of armpit) which usually needs to be kept for a period of 7 to 10 days.

Discharge is generally within 1 or two days of the surgery depending on the recovery of the patient. In case of special reconstruction hospital stay may increase anything from 2 to 5 days.

The surgery lasts for a total of two hours. It is carried out under general anesthesia. Only if some special reconstruction is planned in form of local or free flaps, the surgery will take more time based on the merits of the reconstruction plan.

Admission may be done on the day of the surgery or a day prior. Before surgery patient needs to be on 8 hour fasting for any solid foods, however water/clear liquids (as advised by the surgical team) may be continued up till 2 hrs from surgery.

Studies all over the world have proven that chances of cure following mastectomy alone or breast conservation surgery followed by radiation therapy are equivalent.

This surgery involves removal of tumour with a safe margin and removal of lymph nodes in the axilla (armpit). Depending upon the type of defect created by wide excision of lump various reconstruction options are available. Reconstruction using the local tissue – oncoplasty (volume displacement) or plastic surgery flaps (volume replacement)

Breast conservation therapy primarily includes two components Surgery – Breast Conservation surgery. Radiation therapy – to the operated breast, after the surgery.