Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer treatment options in Northeast India have improved significantly, especially in state capitals and larger cities. While some patients may still travel to metros like Kolkata or Mumbai for advanced care, the Northeast now has several reliable cancer treatment centers offering surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

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✅ Treatment Options for Breast Cancer in Northeast India

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1. Surgery

• Lumpectomy (Breast-Conserving Surgery): Removes only the tumor and surrounding tissue.

• Mastectomy: Removes the entire breast; may be unilateral or bilateral.

• Lymph Node Removal: To check if cancer has spread to lymph nodes

➡️ Available at: All major cancer centers.

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2. Chemotherapy

• Used before surgery (neoadjuvant) to shrink tumors or after surgery (adjuvant) to prevent recurrence.

• Administered in cycles and usually done in outpatient oncology departments.

• Common drugs: Paclitaxel, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide, etc.

➡️ Cost: Ranges from ₹20,000 to ₹1.5 lakh per cycle (generic options available)

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3. Radiation Therapy

• Often used after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells.

• Techniques: External Beam Radiation, Brachytherapy.

• Lumpectomy or mastectomy, depending on tumor size and stage.

• Many regional cancer centers (RCCs) and medical colleges offer surgical oncology services.

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4. Hormone Therapy

• Drugs like Tamoxifen, Letrozole, and Anastrozole are easily available and often part of long-term treatment plans.

• Used when tumors are hormone receptor-positive (ER/PR+):

• Tamoxifen (pre-menopausal women)

• Aromatase Inhibitors: Letrozole, Anastrozole (post-menopausal)

➡️ Duration: Often given for 5–10 years.

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5. Targeted Therapy

For HER2-positive breast cancer:

• Trastuzumab (Herceptin) available in major centers but costly and biosimilars

• Pertuzumab, Lapatinib (in advanced cases)

• ➡️ Cost: Herceptin may cost ₹60,000–₹1.5 lakh per dose; biosimilars lower cost significantly.

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6. Immunotherapy (for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer)

• Atezolizumab, Pembrolizumab (select cases)

• Still emerging and more expensive.

➡️ Mostly in metro cities and top hospitals.

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7. Palliative Care

For advanced/metastatic cases where cure isn’t possible.

• Focus on pain management, comfort, and quality of life.

• May include oral chemo, radiotherapy, and emotional support.

• Offered in advanced cancer centers and through NGOs in many cities of Northeast india

• Includes pain management, symptom control, and emotional support.

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🏥 Major Cancer Treatment Centers in Northeast India

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🏥 Assam

1. Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati)

• 📍 Location: Guwahati

• 🏥 Type: Government (Regional Cancer Centre)

• 🔹 Managed in collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre (Mumbai)

• ✅ Services:

  • Surgical Oncology

  • Chemotherapy

  • Radiation Therapy (Linear Accelerators, IMRT, etc.)

  • Palliative Care & Support Services

• 💰 Affordable/free treatment available via Ayushman Bharat and other government schemes.

• 🌐 Website: www.bbcionline.org

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2. State Cancer Institute, Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH)

• 📍 Location: Guwahati

• 🏥 Type: Government (Tertiary Hospital)

• ✅ Services:

  • Medical, Surgical & Radiation Oncology

  • Radiotherapy with modern LINAC machines

  • Advanced diagnostics and inpatient cancer care

• 💰 Low-cost/free treatment through government schemes

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3. Tata Cancer Care Foundation Centres (Upcoming/Functional)

• 📍 Locations: Diphu, Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, Silchar, and Jorhat

• 🏥 Type: Public-Private Partnership (Govt. of Assam + Tata Trusts)

• ✅ Part of Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF) initiative

• 🎯 Goal: Make cancer care accessible across Assam

• 🌐 Website: www.assamcancercarefoundation.org

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🏥 Tripura

• Agartala Government Medical College

  • Provides basic surgical and medical oncology services.

• Private hospitals in Agartala (e.g., ILS Hospital) also offer cancer care.

 

🏥 Manipur

• Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal

  • Offers cancer diagnostics and treatment, including surgery and chemo.

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🏥 Meghalaya

• Civil Hospital, Shillong and NEIGRIHMS

  • NEIGRIHMS provides multidisciplinary care, with cancer surgery and chemotherapy.

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🏥 Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim

• Cancer care is developing; patients often referred to:

  • Guwahati (BBCI or State Cancer Institute)

  • Siliguri or Kolkata for advanced treatment

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💸 Financial Assistance & Support

• Ayushman Bharat PMJAY (offered in most states)

• State-specific health schemes

• Free/subsidized drugs at government hospitals

• NGOs like Indian Cancer Society, Roko Cancer, and CanSupport

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📌 Suggestions

If you're in a smaller town, it's best to:

• Get diagnosis and biopsy done locally.

• Travel to a regional cancer center (e.g., BBCI Guwahati, SCI GMCH Guwahati ) for a full treatment plan.

• Follow up with chemo and oral meds locally if possible.