Ghaith Bahjat Heilat1, Meagan E Brennan2, James French3. 1. MD, MS, Jordanian Board of General Surgery (JBGS), Breast Surgery Fellow, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Clinical Lecturer, School of Medicine/Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan. g.heilat@yahoo.com. 2. FRACGP, FASBP, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, Breast Physician, Northern and Westmead Clinical Schools, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW. 3. FRCAS, Head of Breast Surgery, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Clinical Associate Professor, Westmead Clinical School, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer affects one in eight Australian women. While surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endocrine therapy are still the main treatments, there have been changes in the sequencing of treatment and advances in each therapy. The general practitioner (GP) is involved at each stage of the patient's journey. OBJECTIVE: This article discusses the current approach to the management of early breast cancer. It focuses on changes in recent years and discusses the role of the GP in supporting women in their decision-making and treatment. DISCUSSION: Key changes include the increasing use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the development of advanced oncoplastic surgery and breast reconstruction techniques, the use of gene expression profiling and the recommendation for extended adjuvant endocrine therapy for up to 10 years.
BACKGROUND:Breast cancer affects one in eight Australian women. While surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and endocrine therapy are still the main treatments, there have been changes in the sequencing of treatment and advances in each therapy. The general practitioner (GP) is involved at each stage of the patient's journey. OBJECTIVE: This article discusses the current approach to the management of early breast cancer. It focuses on changes in recent years and discusses the role of the GP in supporting women in their decision-making and treatment. DISCUSSION: Key changes include the increasing use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the development of advanced oncoplastic surgery and breast reconstruction techniques, the use of gene expression profiling and the recommendation for extended adjuvant endocrine therapy for up to 10 years.