Chemoembolization for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer: a Unique Method

Chemoembolization of the mammary gland is a revolutionary method that opens up new horizons for patients with inoperable breast tumors. Dmitry Nadinsky, a surgeon-oncologist in the X-ray surgery department of the A. Tsyb MRRC – branch of the National Medical Research Radiological Centre of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, talks about how this method works and in what cases it is used.

“First of all, chemoembolization is used for patients with locally advanced breast cancer at stage 4,” says Dmitry Olegovich. “In such cases, patients often experience severe pain, recurrent bleeding, tumor intoxication and its decay, accompanied by a characteristic odor. The mammary gland becomes purple-burgundy, noticeably deformed and increases in volume. When radical surgical intervention is impossible, and other treatment methods are associated with the risk of complications, doctors join forces to develop an individual treatment strategy.”

Chemoembolization is a method in which a chemotherapy drug is injected directly into the tumor. The operation is performed minimally invasively through a small incision in the artery, which helps patients recover faster after the intervention.

“We have successful examples when, after several courses of chemoembolization, the condition of patients significantly improved. The process stabilized, bleeding disappeared, and the tumor volume decreased,” emphasizes Dmitry Olegovich. “This allows doctors to subsequently carry out radical treatment.”

Specialists at the NMRRC help cope with the tumor process even when the main treatment methods have been exhausted. You can determine the indications for this high-tech assistance after consulting with the Center’s X-ray surgeon. Registration is carried out by calling the contact center: 8 (800) 250-87-00.