Adjuvant treatment Flashcards
What is trastuzumab?
A monoclonal antibody directed against HER2/neu which is a growth factor receptor on the cell surface
Herceptin
What treatment is used for ER+ and PR+ breast cancer?
Tamoxefen
What is anastrazole?
A selective aromatase inhibitor used to treat breast cancer in women who have experienced menopause
When is radiotherapy given to patients?
In all patients being treated conservatively i.e. wide local excision
In some mastectomy patients
Under what criteria would mastectomy patients be given radiotherapy?
Large tumour
Extensive nodal involvement >4 nodes
Invovled margins <1mm
How does radiotherapy affect rates of recurrence?
Reduces risk by one half
What are the acute side effects of radiotherapy?
Skin erythema
Fatigue
Mild dysphagia if in supraclavicular area
What are the late side effects of radiotherapy?
Local fibrosis and telangectasia
Lung fibrosis
Ischaemic heart disease
Which patients recieve aromatase inhibitors?
Post menopausal women with ER+ve cancers
How do aromatase inhibitors work?
Prevent synthesis of oestrogen
What are the side effects of hormone therapy?
Infertility
Menopausal symptoms
Weight gain
Endometrial cancer
Deep venous thrombosis
What is tamoxefen?
An estrogen receptor modulator used to treat ER+ve breast cancer in premenopausal women
What is the role of chemotherapy in breast cancer?
Preventing recurrence
Shrinking tumours to allow breast conservation surgery
How is metastatic disease managed?
Hormone therapy if OR/Pg +ve
Chemotherapy
Bisphosphonates for bony mets
Trastuzumab if HER2 +ve
What is lassitude?
A state of mental or physical weariness
