Dr. Cristina Saura Manich is a medical oncologist associated with the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology in Barcelona. Her specialty is breast cancer, an area of oncology that requires individualized diagnosis and treatment planning.

Breast cancer care may involve medical oncology, breast surgery, radiology, pathology, radiation oncology, and genetic counseling. Treatment decisions are guided by tumor stage, histological subtype, hormone receptor status, HER2 status, molecular findings, and the patient's health and preferences.

Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Breast cancer evaluation typically begins with clinical assessment and breast imaging. Depending on the findings, diagnostic procedures may include mammography, ultrasound, MRI, and tissue biopsy.

Pathology testing helps identify the type of breast cancer and important tumor markers. These findings can influence the choice of systemic treatment and the sequence of surgery, radiation, and medication.

Medical Oncology and Treatment Options

Medical oncology addresses the use of medicines to treat cancer. Depending on the diagnosis, breast cancer treatment may include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, HER2-directed medicines, targeted therapies, or immunotherapy for selected patients.

Not every treatment is appropriate for every breast cancer. For example, hormone therapy is generally relevant to hormone receptor-positive disease, while HER2-directed therapies are used when a tumor meets specific HER2 criteria.

Treatment may be given before surgery, after surgery, or for advanced disease. The treatment plan is determined through an assessment of the patient's pathology, stage, previous therapies, and clinical circumstances.

Clinical Research and New Therapies

Breast cancer research includes investigations into targeted medicines, immunotherapy, treatment combinations, and approaches designed to reduce recurrence or improve outcomes in advanced disease.

VHIO is a cancer research institute connected with clinical oncology at Vall d’Hebron. Patients can ask their treating team whether relevant clinical trials are open and whether their diagnosis meets the inclusion criteria.

Clinical trial availability can change, and enrollment is never guaranteed. Standard treatment options should be discussed alongside investigational therapies.

Care for International Patients

Patients traveling to Barcelona for breast cancer evaluation should bring breast imaging, pathology slides or reports, immunohistochemistry results, HER2 testing, genetic test results if available, and records of prior treatment.

These documents can help the oncology team review the diagnosis and determine whether additional tests or consultations are needed.

A specialist consultation can support a personalized treatment discussion, but the final plan requires a complete clinical evaluation.