Breast cancer

Question 1

What can neoadjuvant therapy achieve in breast cancer?

Answer 1

reduction in need for mastectomy
equivalent survival advantage to adjuvant chemotherapy

Question 2

Tamoxifen MOA

Answer 2

competitively binds to oestrogen receptors on tumours and other tissue targets, producing a nuclear complex that decreases DNA synthesis and inhibits
oestrogen effects

Question 3

Tamoxifen side effects

Answer 3

hot flushes
vaginal discharge
GI disturbance
weight gain
bone density loss/gain
endometrial proliferation/cancer
venous thrombosis in CVS

Question 4

Name some aromatase inhibitors

Answer 4

anastrazole
letrozole
exemestane

Question 5

Side effects of chemotherapy

Answer 5

mucositis
alopecia
nausea/vomiting
local reaction to injection site
sterility
myelosuppression
renal failure
pulmonary fibrosis
cardiotoxicity

Question 6

What anti emetic is used for nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy?

Answer 6

ondansetron (5HT3 antagonists)

Question 7

What patients should present to the acute oncology service (AOS)?

Answer 7

emergency admissions
fever
vomiting
diarrhoea
pain control
cord compression symptoms

Question 8

Indications for radiotherapy in breast cancer

Answer 8

after side local excision
after mastectomy
axillary nodes

Question 9

What is herceptin?

Answer 9

trastuzumab
monoclonal antibody to HER2
risk of cardiotoxicity

Question 10

Metastatic breast cancer, ER +ve treatment

Answer 10

tamoxifen
aromatase inhibitors - steroidal or non-steroidal
chemo

Question 11

Metastatic breast cancer ER -ve treatment

Answer 11

chemo