Management of Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast

Management of Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast

The premise for this work is the realization that cancer cannot be adequately treated by a single specialty. The surgeon, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist cannot and should not work or function in the secluded sphere of his/her own domain. Instead, successful management of the cancer patient must incorporate the best that each of these specialties has to offer. Added to the list of necessary healthcare professionals are genetic counselors, pain specialists, and nutrition experts, just to name a few. The present study is a retrospective one. It is conducted at the biostatistics and cancer epidemiology department during a period of 3 months in 2013.The study included 32 patients with breast tumors diagnosed as phyllodes tumors. Phyllodes tumors are rare breast tumors that, like fibroadenomas, contain 2 types of breast tissue: stromal (connective) tissue and glandular (lobule and duct) tissue. They are most common in women in their 30s and 40s, but they may be found in women of any age. Malignant phyllodes tumors are treated by removing them along with a wider margin of normal tissue, or by mastectomy (removing the entire breast) if needed.