Best Breast Cancer Specialists in Mumbai, India
Dr. Garvit Chitkara
Senior consultant
Nanavati Max Institute of Cancer Care, Breast Cancer Program, Cancer Reconstructive Surgery Program
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Does a Breast Cancer Specialist Diagnose Breast Cancer?
A cancer diagnosis is possible through a physical breast exam. A breast exam is the simplest form of a breast cancer diagnosis. For example, a breast cancer specialist in Mumbai physically checks both breasts and the armpits for swellings or abnormalities in the lymph nodes. Advanced ways to diagnose breast cancer are:
- Mammograms
- Breast ultrasounds
- Biopsies
- MRIs
2. What are The Pathologies Related to The Breast?
Once checked by a breast cancer doctor in Mumbai, the results come as malignant, benign, or atypical hyperplasia. A common term in a positive diagnosis is carcinoma.
When tests come back as benign, the tumor is non-cancerous and does not need treatment. However, if you don’t get a doctor to check these tumors, they might lead to breast cancer.
3. What is The Possible Prognosis?
Breast cancer isn't a death sentence as many women live many decades after diagnosis and proper treatment. If the breast cancer is only in the breast, the chances of living longer are much higher. On average, there is a 99% chance of 5-year survival for women whose cancer hasn’t left the breast.
4. What Causes Breast Cancer?
The best breast cancer doctors in Mumbai list various factors as the causes of breast cancer. The most common ones include:
- Age – Individuals 55 years and older are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer
- Genetics and family history – If close relatives have breast cancer, there’s a higher chance you’ll get it
- Radiation exposure – Exposing your head, chest, or neck to radiation increases the chances of getting cancer
- Smoking and alcohol use – Tobacco and alcohol use leads to various types of cancer, among them breast cancer
5. How Can I Check If I am at a High Risk of Breast cancer?
Breast cancer specialists in Mumbai indicate that men and women who don’t exercise, are obese and drink alcohol have a higher chance of getting breast cancer. Women who gain weight after menopause, in particular, can get breast cancer more than those at a normal weight.
6. What are The Treatments for Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer treatment depends on the patient’s cancer stage. At Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, cancer patients have the following treatments at their disposal:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Biological therapy
- Surgery
- Hormonal therapy
The best breast cancer surgeon in Mumbai will suggest the best treatment based on the extent of the illness.
7. Will Breast Cancer Treatments Affect My Routine Life?
Cancer treatments have various side effects, such as nausea, hair and weight loss. These might take a toll on the patient, forcing them to stay away from work. Besides, cancer treatments take up most of a patient’s free time, meaning less time spent with friends.
8. Is There a Way to Avoid Breast Cancer?
Preventing breast cancer is a long shot. Risk factors, such as being female, cannot change. Nonetheless, eating a healthy diet and avoiding cigarette and alcohol use reduces the chances. In addition, it’s advisable to exercise and get screened regularly by breast cancer doctors in Mumbai.
9. Can Breast Cancer Affect Men?
Yes, though rare, men have some amount of breast tissue behind the nipples. Men over 60 years are more likely to get breast cancer. Still, some cases involve much younger men. Identifying a lump in the breast and noticing discharge are alarming signs. See a breast cancer specialist in Mumbai immediately.
10. Is Breast Cancer Fatal?
Patients can survive breast cancer with early diagnosis and treatment. That’s why doctors suggest regular screenings to identify any abnormalities in the breast. Out of 100 women, 90 are alive five years after diagnosis.
The best breast cancer doctor in Mumbai ensures they provide the best treatment to all breast cancer patients.
11. What is The Available Breast Cancer Treatment in India?
After identifying a cancerous tumor, the best treatment in India is surgery. This procedure gets rid of the affected tissues. Radiation therapy follows after surgery. Although these treatments are intense, the results are mostly positive.
12. How Much is Breast Cancer Treatment Cost in India?
Cancer treatments vary as per the stage of the disease and treatment options suggested. However, at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, patients get personalised care from the best breast cancer surgeons in Mumbai.
13. How Can I Find The Best Doctor for Breast Cancer Treatment in India?
Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital has the best breast cancer doctors and surgeons. There is a comprehensive list of professionals, with their credentials and other information listed there. It’s vital to get a knowledgeable doctor to treat cancer because it is recurrent if not appropriately treated.
14. What is The Clinical Breast Exam?
On a visit to a breast cancer doctor in Mumbai, the medical doctor will perform a CBE (clinical breast exam) to check for lumps or swollen lymph nodes physically. Usually, most lumps are identifiable through physical touch, you can even conduct a self-exam at home.
15. How Often Should a Patient Go for Breast Cancer Screening?
Breast cancer specialists in Mumbai suggest that women start screenings at 30. After the first visit, they should make it a routine to visit a breast cancer specialist every two years. This way, it’s easier to identify issues and start dealing with them early enough.
16. What Imaging Tests are Helpful to Detect Breast Cancer?
Mammograms are the most efficient in detecting cancer. Moreover, most hospitals offer mammogram services to screen for cancer. The best breast cancer doctors in Mumbai start with a screening mammogram and advance to a diagnostic mammogram in case of abnormalities.
17. My Mom Had Breast Cancer, Will I Get It too?
If your mother, sister, or daughter has breast cancer, there’s a double chance that you’ll get it too. However, that doesn’t mean everyone whose mother had breast cancer will get it. So, to be safe, get screened every two years to alleviate your fears.
18. Can a Woman Get Pregnant after Getting Breast Cancer Treatment?
Unfortunately, some breast cancer treatments reduce a woman’s fertility. Chemotherapy, for example, damages the ovaries, causing delayed or immediate infertility. Still, most women can conceive after breast cancer treatments. The body’s reaction to treatments determines the success or failure to conceive.