A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Timely Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, Considering Pathology, Could Provide Patients with a Better Quality of Life.
If current trends continue, by 2030, the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer is expected to increase by 34%.
The treatment of breast cancer is not the task of a single physician; various subspecialists are focused on its diagnosis and treatment. A multidisciplinary team of medical specialists is necessary to manage this disease. In this context, the role of the pathologist in diagnosing breast cancer is crucial for detailed information about the type of neoplasia the patient has.
Every year, in the United States, more than 462,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and nearly 100,000 die from this disease. In Mexico, it is the leading cause of death among women, and it is estimated that 14.3% of all new cancer cases are breast cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), if current trends continue, by 2030, the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer is expected to increase by 34%.
Pathologists study tissues using optical microscopy in cancer patients to correlate clinical radiological findings with morphological findings, thereby providing a diagnosis and selection of personalized therapies.
When the pathology lab confirms cancer suspicions previously observed by an oncologist, other important data are also obtained, helping the patient to better understand their condition. The pathology report for a breast cancer patient should include findings on the type of cancer. In the case of breast cancer, there are three subtypes: Hormone Receptor Positive, HER2 Receptor Positive, and Triple Negative, the latter being the most aggressive of the three as it does not respond to hormonal treatment or targeted anti-HER2 therapies.
After the pathologist’s diagnosis, the oncologist knows with certainty if it is breast cancer. This is how the best therapy for the patient is determined, which can include estrogen receptor blockers, targeted therapy against the HER2 receptor, or chemotherapy in the case of triple-negative breast cancer.
Patients should have access to innovative treatments to address different mutations in the most effective way. Advances in medicine have allowed personalized processes in the treatment of breast cancer patients, for example:
- Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: This has shown benefits regarding overall survival and allows a higher rate of breast conservation without increasing tumors.
- Immunotherapy: A type of treatment that stimulates the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer and can work in the following ways:
- Stop or slow the growth of cancer cells.
- Prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
- Help the immune system work better at destroying cancer cells.
These innovative advances are just the beginning of the numerous efforts made by the medical community for the benefit of patients. There is more to come, and pathologists in Mexico are here to contribute to better management of cancer patient diagnoses.
Early diagnosis, along with treatment advances like immunotherapy, has shown increased survival for women with breast cancer. However, many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean continue to have limited access to these interventions.