Coimbatore, 26th Jul 2023: American Oncology Institute (AOI) at Royal Care Super Speciality Hospital, Coimbatore successfully treated a 67-year-old female diagnosed with Carcinoma Right Breast. The patient underwent a comprehensive treatment plan that included surgery, chemotherapy, and advanced radiation therapy, resulting in excellent outcomes.
During her treatment at AOI, the patient underwent four cycles of NACT (Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy) to shrink the tumor before the main treatment. This was followed by a Right Modified Radical Mastectomy, a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast, including the skin, areola, nipple, and most axillary lymph nodes, while sparing the pectoralis major muscle.
After the breast removal surgery (mastectomy), the patient underwent four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy over the past few months. This type of chemotherapy is given to eliminate any remaining microscopic cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. After carefully examining the tissue removed during the mastectomy, the doctors found that the cancer was a grade III invasive carcinoma, but they were able to remove all tumours from the surrounding tissue. However, some of the lymph nodes in the armpit area showed signs of cancer spread. To reduce the risk of recurrence in the chest area and to increase the chances of complete recovery, the AOI medical team recommended radiation therapy called Post Mastectomy Radiation Therapy (PMRT). This radiation treatment focuses on the chest and nearby lymph nodes to make sure any remaining cancer cells are destroyed, improving the patient's overall survival and lower the risk of recurrence.
Explaining about the treatment, Dr Anbu. C, Radiation Oncologist, American Oncology Institute at Royal Care Super Speciality Hospital, said, “Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers occurring in females in India - over 1.8 lakh affected with breast cancer every year and the incidence is slowly increasing year on year. Breast cancer usually presents as a painless lump in the breast, which progressively increases in size, and when left unnoticed it can lead to skin ulcer with bleeding or bleeding from nipple. More than 90% of breast cancers arise from epithelial cells lining the milk ducts within breast. Breast cancer is managed by multimodality therapy, where multiple disciplines of medicine like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy are utilized together for the successful management of breast cancer. Radiation therapy helps to improve survival in local and regionally advanced breast cancer patients.
The combined approach of NACT, mastectomy, adjuvant chemotherapy and PMRT was aimed at providing the patient with the best possible outcome and improving her overall health.”
The patient received radiation therapy using the state-of-the-art Varian TrueBeam STx Linac at AOI. The treatment was based on a precise 3D CT simulation to accurately target the right chest wall region and regional lymph node region. On her last visit, 15 days after the completion of radiation therapy, the patient was symptom-free. She was initiated on Hormonal Therapy and advised to undergo regular follow-up to ensure her continued well-being.
Mr Faisal Siddiqui, Chief Operating Officer – Processes, CTSI, South Asia, said, “We are proud to have successfully treated this patient with a comprehensive and personalized approach, combining cutting-edge medical technology with compassionate care. Our team of expert oncologists and support staff worked tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient. The positive results achieved in this case highlight AOI’s commitment to providing precision cancer care and our dedication to improving the lives of our patients.”
American Oncology Institute Coimbatore is a state-of-the-art cancer hospital providing integrated and complete cancer care and treatment to patients in and around Tamil Nadu. The world-class facility is opened in collaboration with the Royal Care Super Speciality Hospital in Coimbatore. AOI has expanded its network of super-speciality cancer hospitals in India and across South Asia. AOI provides comprehensive cancer treatment services to its patients that include Radiation Oncology, Surgical Oncology, and Medical Oncology for people across all age groups and gender. In addition, they also provide advanced techniques in Radiotherapy such as TrueBeam STx, Brachytherapy, and PET/CT with 4D technology.
