Why do breast cancer lesions disappear after chemotherapy?

The disappearance of breast cancer lesions after chemotherapy indicates that the effect is good. Considering the effects of chemotherapy drugs, the sensitivity of tumor cells, the comprehensive treatment effect, the limitations that affect the examination, etc., follow-up and further treatment are also needed.

1. The role of chemotherapy drugs: Chemotherapy is a treatment method that uses anticancer drugs to kill or inhibit cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs can act on cancer cells through different mechanisms, such as interfering with the DNA synthesis of cancer cells, blocking cell division, inhibiting angiogenesis, etc. The role of chemotherapy drugs may cause breast cancer tumor lesions to shrink or disappear.

2. Tumor cell sensitivity: Different tumor cells have different sensitivities to chemotherapy drugs. Some tumor cells may be more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs, so after chemotherapy, breast cancer lesions may disappear. However, some tumor cells may develop resistance to chemotherapy drugs, and the treatment effect may be poor.

3. Comprehensive treatment effect: Chemotherapy is usually part of a comprehensive treatment plan for breast cancer, which also includes comprehensive treatment measures such as surgery, radiotherapy and endocrine therapy. Chemotherapy may interact with other treatment methods to exert a therapeutic effect. The disappearance of lesions after chemotherapy may also be the effect of comprehensive treatment.

4. Limitations of imaging examinations: The disappearance of breast cancer tumor lesions is usually evaluated through imaging examinations (such as mammary X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.). However, imaging examinations may have certain limitations and cannot completely and accurately detect tiny lesions or residual cancer cells. The disappearance of lesions after breast cancer chemotherapy may also be due to the limitations of imaging examinations. In this case, further examinations and follow-up observations are recommended to make a judgment.

5. Follow-up and further treatment: Even if the breast cancer lesions disappear, breast cancer patients still need regular follow-up and monitoring. This is because even if the lesions disappear, there may still be tiny residual cancer cells or potential risk of metastasis. During the follow-up period, the doctor will develop a further treatment plan based on the patient's specific situation, which may include surgery, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy or targeted therapy, etc., to ensure the control of the disease and prevent recurrence.

This situation needs to be evaluated in combination with the doctor's diagnosis and treatment plan. Patients should maintain a light diet, quit smoking and drinking in their daily lives, which will help them recover from the disease.