Breast Department
Overview
Breast cancer is on the rise worldwide and has become a global burden with a high mortality rate. In Vietnam, according to Globocan statistics in 2024, there are about 24,533 new breast cancer cases, accounting for 28.9% of all cancers in women, making it the most common cancer in our country together with liver cancer. Although early screening strategies have been intensified and advances in multimodal treatment have reduced mortality risk, the incidence of breast cancer continues to increase. Not only women in the premenopausal stage, but now young people are also highly susceptible to this disease. Notably, more than 40% of patients are hospitalized at a late stage, leading to difficult treatment and poor prognosis.
Thyroid cancer is one of the most common endocrine cancers and has shown a clear upward trend globally in recent decades. The disease typically appears in middle age but is increasingly occurring in younger groups. Overall, thyroid cancer generally has a good prognosis and high survival rates, especially when detected early and treated appropriately. However, the rising number of cases places increasing demands on screening, accurate diagnosis, and long‑term treatment management.
In response to these trends, the Breast Department – University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City has been established with the goal of becoming a specialized unit in the diagnosis, treatment, and surgery of breast and thyroid diseases to meet the growing health care needs of the community.
Strength
The Breast Department of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City operates with the spirit “Providing comprehensive health care solutions”. Therefore, the department always focuses on supplementing and maintaining the quality of services, while continuously improving diagnostic and treatment methods. Currently, the Breast Department maintains activities: examination, consultation, treatment for patients with benign breast diseases and multimodal treatment for breast cancer patients, screening and treatment of thyroid diseases. In addition, the department also treats head, face, and neck glandular tumors such as skin cancer, salivary gland tumors, ... Specifically, the Breast Department conducts examination, consultation, and treatment for patients with benign and malignant breast diseases as follows:
Fibroadenoma: This is a relatively common benign breast disease. Fibroadenomas usually occur in young women, those with unstable hormone levels or using estrogen supplement medications.
Breast pain: This condition can range from mild to severe, and may or may not be related to the menstrual cycle. About 70% of women experience breast pain, of which about 15% require medication.
Papillary tumor: This is a rare type of breast tumor, accounting for only 1% of all breast tumors. Papillary tumors can progress rapidly and may be benign or malignant.
Breast hamartoma: This condition is also known as fibroadenolipoma or breast within a breast. Breast hamartomas usually appear in women over 35 years old and account for about 0.1% - 0.7% of cases.
Mastitis: This disease is characterized by pain and inflammation of the breast. It can occur in breastfeeding women, usually within the first three months postpartum.
Gynecomastia: Gynecomastia is the enlargement of male breast tissue. The cause is an imbalance between the hormones estrogen and testosterone. Statistics show that about half of young men and two‑thirds of men over 50 (typically 50‑69 years) experience this condition.
Macromastia: Characterized by breast volume exceeding normal due to excessive growth of glandular tissue accompanied by increased infiltration of surrounding fat tissue. This condition can appear during puberty or after childbearing.
Multimodal treatment for breast cancer patients: At the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, breast cancer treatment is carried out by combining multiple modalities: surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone therapy.
Surgery: Breast‑conserving surgery, skin‑sparing mastectomy with muscle flap reconstruction or implant, sentinel lymph node dissection, sentinel node biopsy, delayed breast reconstruction after mastectomy, tissue expander placement, minimally invasive breast reconstruction surgery.
Chemotherapy: Application of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, and palliative chemotherapy.
Radiotherapy: Adjuvant radiotherapy.
Targeted therapy: Trastuzumab.
Immunotherapy: Pembrolizumab.
Hormone therapy: Tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors. Among them, immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy is both a goal and a desire of medical staff to achieve aesthetic results and treatment efficacy. Breast reconstruction not only helps patients maintain a beautiful physique but also prevents psychological distress, allowing quick reintegration and stable life after treatment.
In addition to breast diseases, the development and specialized treatment of benign and malignant thyroid diseases, salivary gland tumors (parotid gland tumor, submandibular gland tumor), parathyroid tumors, skin cancer, … are also being promoted. The Breast Department proficiently performs techniques such as thyroid lobe resection, total thyroidectomy, central neck lymph node dissection, and lateral neck lymph node dissection. Moreover, the department applies modern techniques such as transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy, which enhances aesthetics by leaving no scar, and also facilitates rapid recovery, reduced pain, and early discharge after surgery. The combined use of hormone therapy and radioactive iodine is also employed to improve treatment quality for patients. Common thyroid diseases include:
Parathyroid adenoma: The parathyroid gland secretes PTH to regulate calcium in the body; a parathyroid adenoma causing hypercalcemia can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, constipation, kidney stones, arrhythmia, ... Surgical removal of the parathyroid adenoma and postoperative blood calcium monitoring are the main treatment methods for this condition.
Skin cancer: Includes various types such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Clinical manifestations are usually pigmented lesions on the skin that ulcerate and progressively enlarge. The main treatment includes wide excision and flap rotation to fill the defect, ensuring both oncological safety and aesthetic outcome for the patient.
Training & Research
As a training base for practicing medical human resources of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City and the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, the Breast Department not only stops there; it also organizes learning activities and collaborations with experts. In addition, conferences, scientific meetings, and experience exchange sessions are regularly participated in and organized by the department.
The Breast Department regularly organizes training sessions, knowledge updates, and diagnostic and therapeutic technique workshops for students, nurses, and specialist‑oriented physicians. Additionally, it collaborates with the Department of Science and Training to participate in advanced medical training and research for oncology resident physicians on breast and thyroid diseases.
The Breast Department also organizes learning activities, cooperating with leading experts in regional countries to develop numerous in-depth research projects, applying achievements and modern technology to practice. Currently, the Breast Department is focusing on developing an oral endoscopic thyroid surgery method and plans to continue implementation to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients.
Equipments
As part of the “ecosystem” of medical examination and treatment of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, the Breast Department has spacious infrastructure that ensures convenience for patients and their families. The treatment rooms and infusion rooms are fully equipped with examination tools such as thermometers, measuring devices, calipers, ... The ward area is spacious and well‑ventilated, each bed is equipped with a complete lighting system, oxygen tank, nurse call device, ... The medical examination and treatment equipment of the Breast Department are always updated and regularly maintained, ensuring fast and accurate results. The presence of a breast biopsy technical support machine guided by ultrasound with vacuum‑assisted suction (VABB) at the Breast Department has created a major breakthrough in successful treatment for breast cancer patients.
Staff
Breast and thyroid cancers are latent diseases. The majority of patients are only diagnosed when the disease has progressed severely. The pathogenesis of cancer in general and breast cancer in particular is extremely complex. Providing accurate assessments during screening as well as proposing appropriate treatment methods requires the medical team to have deep understanding of the disease. The doctors working at the Breast Department of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City are PhDs, Masters, specialist physicians with high professional qualifications and extensive experience. Each doctor always values the spirit of learning, professional development and work skills to provide patients with optimal health care methods.