Mucinous (colloid) carcinoma is a rare type of invasive breast cancer. It forms when the cancer cells in the breast produce mucus, which carries the cancer cells. The mucus and its cancer cells form a jelly type of a tumor. This type of breast cancer rarely spreads to the lymph nodes. To detect colloid carcinoma, tests such as mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and surgical biopsies are performed. There are several ways of treating it.
Lumpectomy
Lumpectomy is the process of removing the tumor and a portion of the surrounding breast tissue. This procedure is minimally invasive and is actually a breast-conserving method. The surgeon removes the lump or tumor itself, and a margin of tissue that surrounds the tumor. The surgeon works by feel and through the findings from the ultrasound and mammogram results. The surgeon must make sure no other lumps, bumps, bits and tentacles of the tumor are left. These can cause the cancer to recur.
Mastectomy
A mastectomy removes as much of the breast tissue as possible. It comes in two types: modified radical mastectomy, or total/ Halstead mastectomy.
In modified radical mastectomy, the nipple, areola, and most of the breast skin and tissue are removed. The lymph nodes around the armpit region are taken out as well.
A total /Halstead mastectomy removes the nipple and areola, breast skin and tissue, as well as a part of the chest wall muscle located just underneath the breast. The lymph nodes in the armpit region will also be removed and then tested for cancer.
Radiation
During this procedure, high energy radiation beams are aimed at the breast area where cancer has been removed. Compared to healthy cells, cancer cells divide more quickly, and their composition and function are quite disorganized. This makes them vulnerable to radiation. Cancer cells are less capable of repairing and recovering themselves, giving radiation the power to destroy them.
Radiation can be done either internally or externally. External radiation is more common and is administered for five to seven weeks.
Internal radiation, or brachytherapy, is less common but can be performed at the end of radiation therapy to boost the treatment's effects. Seeds or very small pieces of radioactive material are placed in the area where the tumor was removed. The radiation from the seeds will work on the surrounding tissues that have cancer cells. After the booster treatment, the seeds are removed.
Tags: cancer cells, lymph nodes, area where, armpit region, breast cancer, breast skin