Breast Cancer Flashcards
What is fibrocystic breast cancer?
Characteristics: generalized breast lumpiness/nodularity with tenderness, Pain, swelling, symptoms may decrease after period
- Lumps/cysts are soft or firm, single or multiple, smooth, round and movable.
- May enlarge and become tender
- Nipple discharge may be present- milky, yellow or greenish discharge
What is the pathophysiology of breast cancer?
- Size
- Axillary node involvement
- Tumour differentiation
- Estrogen and progesterone receptor status
- Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) status
What are the three types of breast cancer?
- invasive/infiltrating lobular carcinoma
- noninvasive
- invasive/infiltrating ductal carcinoma
What is an invasive/infiltrating lobular carcinoma?
Tumors occur as an area of ill defined thickening in breast (1 or both breasts).
What is a noninvasive breast cancer?
cancer confined on ducts
What is the two types of noninvasive breast cancer?
- ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS)
2.lobular carcinoma in situ(LCIS)
What is ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS)?
proliferation of malignant cells within the ducts without invasion. Stage 0 breast cancer, simple/total mastectomy 98-99% cure rate.
- unilateral, progresses to invasive if untreated
What is lobular carcinoma in situ(LCIS)?
- premalignant cancer
- Those with LCIS have a higher risk of developing invasive breast cancer in same or opposite breast
- Treatment may not be necessary, tamoxifen may be used.
What is invasive (infiltrating) ductal carcinoma?
- Most common type of breast cancer, forms in ducts
–> Colloid, Inflammatory, Paget’s disease, Medullary, Tubular
what are the complications of breast cancer?
Local: skin
Regional: lymph nodes
Distant: skeletal, spinal cord, brain, pulmonary, liver, bone marrow
How often are you suppose to do self exams for breast cancer? Most common site?
after each period, upper outer quadrant
What is the diagnostic studies for breast cancer?
- History, including risk factors
- Physical examination, including breast and lymphatics
- Mammography, ultrasound, biopsy
- MRI, if indicated
- alnd, slnd
What is an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND)?
often performed to determine if cancer has spread to the axilla on the side of the breast cancer. The more nodes involved, the greater the risk of recurrence.
What is an sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND)?
remove only one node that is most likely to be cancerous
What is a mastectomy?
Removal of breast, pectoral muscles, axillary lymph nodes, all fat and adjacent tissue