15 Frequently Asked Questions : Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery in India for Uzbek Patients

Q1 · What is Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery?

Breast cancer treatment includes one or more therapies designed to control or remove breast cancer.

Treatment may include

• Breast-conserving surgery
• Mastectomy
• Sentinel lymph-node biopsy
• Axillary lymph-node surgery
• Breast reconstruction
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Hormone therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Other systemic treatments

Surgery is often an important part of treatment for patients whose cancer can be removed surgically.

The surgical approach may depend on

• Tumour size
• Tumour location
• Number of tumours
• Breast size
• Lymph-node involvement
• Genetic or hereditary factors
• Previous treatment
• Patient preference

Some patients receive systemic treatment before surgery, while others undergo surgery first.

Q2 · How much does Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery cost in Uzbekistan compared with India?

The cost depends on

• Cancer stage
• Type of surgery
• Pathology and molecular testing
• Hospitalisation
• Surgeon fees
• Reconstruction
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted medicines
• Immunotherapy
• Number of treatment cycles

For indicative planning, this guide uses

• US$1 ≈ UZS 12,200
• US$1 ≈ INR 96

These are indicative planning estimates, not fixed quotations.

The total cost can increase when patients require

• Advanced pathology
• Molecular testing
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Reconstruction
• Prolonged hospitalisation
• Management of complications

Patients should request a detailed quotation showing which services and medicines are included.

Q3 · Which Indian cities can Uzbek patients consider for Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery?

Patients should confirm that the selected centre provides the exact breast cancer treatment required, including surgery, pathology, systemic treatment, radiation and reconstruction where necessary.

Q4 · Which hospitals in India can Uzbek patients consider for Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery?

Not every hospital listed provides every breast cancer treatment or reconstructive procedure. Uzbek patients should confirm the availability of the exact surgery, oncology services, pathology and multidisciplinary breast cancer team before travelling.

Q5 · What types of Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery are available?

Treatment depends on the individual cancer.

1. Breast-Conserving Surgery

Also called lumpectomy or wide local excision, this removes the tumour while preserving much of the breast when appropriate.

2. Mastectomy

Mastectomy involves removal of breast tissue and may be recommended for selected cancers.

3. Sentinel Lymph-Node Biopsy

Selected patients may undergo sentinel lymph-node assessment to determine whether cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

4. Axillary Lymph-Node Surgery

Additional lymph-node surgery may be considered when clinically indicated.

5. Breast Reconstruction

Reconstruction may be performed immediately or at a later stage, depending on the cancer treatment plan.

6. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy may be recommended before or after surgery depending on cancer type and stage.

7. Radiation Therapy

Radiotherapy may be recommended after breast-conserving surgery and for selected patients after mastectomy.

8. Hormone Therapy

Patients with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer may receive endocrine treatment.

9. Targeted Therapy

Patients with specific tumour biomarkers may be eligible for targeted medicines.

10. Immunotherapy

Selected breast cancer subtypes may be treated with immunotherapy.

Treatment may involve a combination of these approaches.

Q6 · Who may be suitable for Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery?

Suitability depends on

• Breast cancer type
• Cancer stage
• Tumour size
• Tumour location
• Lymph-node involvement
• Hormone-receptor status
• HER2 status
• Other tumour characteristics
• Presence or absence of distant spread
• Previous treatment
• Overall health

Surgery may be considered when the tumour can be safely removed and surgery forms part of the treatment plan.

Some patients may receive treatment before surgery to

• Reduce tumour size
• Assess treatment response
• Make breast-conserving surgery possible in selected cases
• Treat systemic disease early

The final treatment sequence should be determined by the multidisciplinary cancer team.

Q7 · What tests are required before Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery?

Common investigations may include

• Mammography
• Breast ultrasound
• Breast MRI where appropriate
• Core-needle biopsy
• Histopathology
• Immunohistochemistry
• Hormone-receptor testing
• HER2 testing
• Molecular testing where indicated
• CT scan
• PET-CT where appropriate
• Bone imaging where clinically indicated
• Blood tests
• ECG
• Anaesthesia assessment

Depending on the case, additional investigations may be required to determine

• Cancer stage
• Lymph-node involvement
• Distant spread
• Tumour biology
• Surgical suitability

Patients should bring previous imaging and pathology whenever available.

Q8 · What medical records should Uzbek patients send before travelling?

Uzbek patients should provide

• Mammography reports and images
• Breast ultrasound reports and images
• Breast MRI reports and images where available
• Biopsy report
• Histopathology
• Immunohistochemistry
• ER/PR results
• HER2 results
• Molecular or genetic reports where available
• CT scans
• PET-CT reports where applicable
• Previous surgery reports
• Previous chemotherapy records
• Previous radiotherapy records
• Hospital discharge summaries
• Blood-test reports
• Current medication list

Patients should also provide

• Exact cancer diagnosis
• Cancer stage if already determined
• Date of diagnosis
• Tumour location
• Lymph-node findings
• Previous treatments
• Treatment response
• Current symptoms

Actual imaging files should be shared whenever possible rather than only written reports.

Q9 · How does Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery work?

Treatment usually begins with complete assessment of the cancer.

Step 1: Diagnosis

The medical team confirms the cancer through imaging and biopsy.

Step 2: Pathology and Tumour Profiling

The tumour may be assessed for

• Estrogen receptors
• Progesterone receptors
• HER2
• Other relevant biomarkers

Step 3: Staging

Imaging and other tests determine whether the cancer is confined to the breast, involves lymph nodes or has spread elsewhere.

Step 4: Treatment Planning

A multidisciplinary team determines whether the patient should receive

• Surgery first
• Systemic treatment first
• Radiation
• Hormone therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• A combination of treatments

Step 5: Surgery

When surgery is appropriate, the procedure may include

• Lumpectomy
• Mastectomy
• Sentinel lymph-node biopsy
• Axillary lymph-node surgery
• Reconstruction

Step 6: Final Pathology

The removed tissue is examined to determine

• Tumour characteristics
• Margins
• Lymph-node status
• Other pathological features

Step 7: Additional Treatment

Depending on the final pathology, patients may require

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation
• Hormone therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy

Step 8: Follow-Up

Patients are monitored through clinical examinations, imaging and other tests as appropriate.

Q10 · What are the alternatives to Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery?

Breast cancer treatment may include different combinations of treatments rather than surgery alone.

Possible approaches include

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Hormone therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Neoadjuvant systemic treatment
• Surgery
• Palliative treatment for advanced disease
• Supportive care

For selected patients, systemic treatment may be given before surgery. For some patients with advanced disease, systemic therapy may be the primary treatment. The appropriate approach depends on the cancer subtype, stage, biomarkers, overall health and treatment objective. Patients should ask the oncology team to explain the purpose and expected benefit of each recommended treatment.

Q11 · What should Uzbek patients ask before accepting a Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery quotation?

Patients should ask

• What is the exact breast cancer diagnosis?
• What is the cancer stage?
• What is the tumour size?
• Is lymph-node involvement present?
• What are the ER and PR results?
• What is the HER2 status?
• Are additional molecular tests required?
• Is surgery required immediately?
• Should chemotherapy be given before surgery?
• What type of surgery is recommended?
• Is breast-conserving surgery possible?
• Is mastectomy recommended?
• Is sentinel lymph-node biopsy required?
• Is axillary lymph-node surgery required?
• Is breast reconstruction appropriate?
• Can reconstruction be performed during the same operation?
• Is chemotherapy required?
• Is radiation therapy required?
• Is hormone therapy required?
• Is targeted therapy required?
• Is immunotherapy required?
• What are the major surgical risks?
• What complications can occur?
• How long is the expected hospital stay?
• What is the estimated total treatment cost?
• Are pathology charges included?
• Are medicines included?
• Are chemotherapy or targeted medicines included?
• What additional costs could arise?
• How will follow-up be managed after returning to Uzbekistan?

Patients should request a detailed written quotation and treatment plan.

Q12 · How long should Uzbek patients stay in India for Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery?

The required stay depends on the treatment sequence.

The journey may include

• Initial consultation
• Pathology review
• Imaging
• Additional investigations
• Pre-operative assessment
• Surgery
• Hospital recovery
• Final pathology
• Oncology consultation
• Further treatment planning

For surgery alone, the hospital stay may be relatively short, but international patients should allow additional time for consultation, investigations and post-operative review. If chemotherapy or radiation therapy is required in India, the total stay can become considerably longer. Many international patients may need approximately 2–4 weeks in India for surgery-based treatment, while patients undergoing additional systemic or radiation treatment may need a substantially longer stay. The treating team should provide an individual timeline before travel. Patients should confirm their return-flight timing only after medical clearance.

Q13 · What is recovery like after Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery?

Recovery depends on the type of surgery and additional treatment.

After breast surgery, patients may experience

• Pain
• Swelling
• Fatigue
• Bruising
• Temporary arm or shoulder stiffness
• Numbness around the surgical area
• Drain placement
• Reduced activity for a period

Patients undergoing lymph-node surgery may also require monitoring for arm swelling or lymphoedema.

Patients should follow instructions regarding

• Wound care
• Drain care
• Medicines
• Physical activity
• Arm and shoulder exercises
• Nutrition
• Follow-up appointments

Recovery after mastectomy and reconstruction may take longer than after a smaller breast operation. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can add additional side effects and recovery requirements.

Seek prompt medical attention for:

• High fever
• Increasing wound redness
• Significant wound discharge
• Heavy bleeding
• Severe swelling
• Severe uncontrolled pain
• Breathing difficulty
• Sudden arm swelling
• Significant weakness
• Sudden deterioration

The treating team should provide individual recovery instructions.

Q14 · How can follow-up be managed after returning to Uzbekistan?

Before leaving India, patients should obtain

• Operative report
• Final pathology report
• Histopathology details
• Immunohistochemistry results
• ER/PR results
• HER2 results
• Imaging reports
• Discharge summary
• Medication list
• Chemotherapy plan where applicable
• Radiation plan where applicable
• Follow-up schedule

Follow-up may involve

• Breast surgeon
• Surgical oncologist
• Medical oncologist
• Radiation oncologist
• Reconstructive surgeon where applicable

Depending on the cancer, follow-up may include

• Clinical examination
• Mammography
• Ultrasound
• MRI
• CT
• PET-CT where appropriate
• Blood tests
• Cancer-specific investigations

Patients should retain copies of all medical records and imaging. If chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy or radiation therapy is to continue after returning to Uzbekistan, the treatment records should be shared with the local oncology team.

Q15 · Should an Uzbek patient travel to India for Breast Cancer Treatment and Surgery?

Uzbek patients considering breast cancer treatment in India should first have their pathology, imaging and previous treatment records reviewed by an appropriate breast cancer team.

Before travelling, patients should understand

• Exact cancer diagnosis
• Cancer stage
• Tumour size and location
• Lymph-node status
• ER/PR status
• HER2 status
• Proposed treatment sequence
• Type of surgery
• Whether reconstruction is required
• Need for chemotherapy
• Need for radiation
• Need for hormone therapy
• Need for targeted treatment
• Need for immunotherapy
• Estimated cost
• Expected hospital stay
• Expected duration in India
• Possible complications
• Follow-up requirements

Patients should obtain a clear written treatment plan before finalising travel arrangements. The decision should be based on individual specialist evaluation and a clear understanding of the proposed treatment, alternatives, risks, costs and follow-up needs.