Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

ONCOLOGY AND PALLIATIVE CARE > BREAST CANCER > Flashcards

BREAST CANCER Flashcards

1
Q

What is the most common type of breast cancer?

A

Invasive ductal carcinomas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are commonly found as precursors to invasive ductal carcinomas of the breast?

A

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the main histopathological types of breast cancer?

A

Invasive ductal carcinomas

Invasive lobular carcinoma

Tubular carcinoma

Medullary carcinoma

Lymphoma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the risk factors for developing breast cancer?

A

BRCA genes

p53 gene mutations

Family history - especially pre-menopausal history

Nulliparity

1st pregnancy is over the age of 30

Obesity

Early menarche

Late menopause

HRT

COCP use (debated)

Not breast feeding

Ionising radiation

Previous breast surgery - more to do with hiding disease than increasing risk

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the lifetime risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer is you inherit a BRCA gene?

A

40%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Who is invited to the breast screening programme in the UK?

A

Women aged between 47 and 73

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How often are women between the age of 47 and 73 screened apart of the National Breast Screening programme?

A

Every 3 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

According to NICE guidelines in 2013, certain people should be referred from breast screening if they have a first degree relative who develops breast cancer. What are the factors that would indicate referral in this situation?

A

Age of diagnosis was under 40

Bilateral breast cancer

Male breast cancer

Ovarian cancer also in family history

Jewish ancestry

Sarcoma (under 45) also in family history

Glioma or childhood adrenal cortical carcinomas also in family history

Complicated patterns of multiple cancers at a young age

Two or more relatives of any age with breast cancer on paternal side of the family

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What tests are offered as part of the National Breast Cancer screening programme?

A

Mammogram

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How long after a mammogram screening test should the patient and her GP receive the results?

A

Within 2 weeks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the clinical features of breast cancer?

A

Lump

Bloody discharge from nipple

Skin changes such as puckering, peau d’orange, dimpling,

Nipple retraction or indentation

Erythema

Scaling of nipple - particularly associated with Paget’s disease of the breast

Axillary lymphadenopathy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Where in the breast are most cancers found?

A

In the upper lateral quadrant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

A woman presents to the breast clinic with a lump. How is she likely to be managed?

A

Triple assessment:

Clinical examination

Imaging - USS, mammogram

Biopsy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the components of the breast lump triple assessment?

A

Clinical examination

Imaging - USS, mammogram

Biopsy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Having identified and confirmed breast cancer through triple assessment, what further investigation would a woman warrant?

A

CT

PET

To stage cancer looking for lymph node and distant involvement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the two views given as part of mammogram imaging?

A

CC view - from above

MLO view - from the side

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

When viewing a CC-view mammogram how do we know which is the lateral edge of the breast and which is the medial edge?

A

The lateral edge is always the top part and hence the medial edge is always at the bottom

18
Q

When describing a mammogram how should you start?

A

Patient details and then talk about density of the breast to get an idea of patient’s age.

19
Q

What are the different ways of describing the shape of a lesion seen on mammogram?

A

Circumscribed

Macro-lobulated

Micro-lobulated

Obscured

Indistinct

Spiculated

20
Q

What percentage of well circumscribed lesions seen on mammogram will be cancerous?

A

2%

21
Q

What percentage of micro-lobulated lesions seen on mammogram will be cancerous?

A

48-52%

22
Q

What percentage of spiculated lesions seen on mammogram will be cancerous?

A

75-95%

23
Q

How do we describe density of a lesion seen on mammogram?

A

Relative to density of the rest of the breast

High
Equal
Low
Fat containing

24
Q

Why do we not really bother with mammograms in the under 40 population who present with a lump?

A

They still have so much glandular tissue which is dense on film and therefore makes tumours impossible to see.

Therefore they will only have an USS

25
Q

On a mammogram, what might a normal lymph node look like?

A

Like an ear pinna - if pathological the cortex will the thickened.

26
Q

If you see multiple circumscribed masses on a mammogram are they likely to be malignant or benign?

A

Benign - most likely to be cysts

27
Q

In an OSCE having presented a mammogram, what should you say you would like to do?

A

Perform an examination of the breast

See the other view - so if viewing a CC view say you want to see a MLO view

Do an USS

Take a biopsy

Take the case to MDT

28
Q

With reference to breast cancer, what do we mean by PMU assessment?

A

This is the grading given to each modality of examination and investigation. They should all agree.

P - palpation
M - mammogram
U- Ultrasound

Each letter is given a score between 1 and 5.

1 - Nothing found

2 - Benign

3 - Unsure

4 - Highly suspicious

5 - Malignant

29
Q

How do we initially manage a lady with breast cancer?

A

MDT

Surgery

30
Q

What are the two surgical options for the management of breast cancer?

A

Wide local excision

Mastectomy

31
Q

What are the factors that would make you confident that wide local excision would be suitable for treating breast cancer, rather than mastectomy?

A

Solitary lesion

Peripheral tumour

Large breasts

DCIS of less than 4 cm

Patient choice is always a factor

32
Q

What are the factors that would make you feel that mastectomy would be more suitable for treating breast cancer, rather than wide local excision?

A

Multifocal tumour

Central tumour*

Small breasts

DCIS of more than 4 cm

Patient choice is always a factor

*Central lesions may be managed using breast conserving surgery where an acceptable cosmetic result may be obtained, this is rarely the case in small breasts

33
Q

As well as surgery, what type of treatment options are available for breast cancer?

A

Radiotherapy

Hormonal therapy

Biological therapy

Chemotherapy

34
Q

Which women are recommended to have radiotherapy as well as surgery for the management of breast cancer?

A

Those who have had wide local excision surgery rather than mastectomy

Those who have had mastectomy to treat T3-T4 graded tumours or those with 4 or more positive axillary nodes

35
Q

What is the hormonal medication used as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of hormone sensitive breast cancer?

A

Pre or peri-menopausal women are given tamoxifen for 5 years.

Post-menopausal women are given aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole.

36
Q

How does tamoxifen work to prevent the return of hormone sensitive breast cancer?

A

It is a ‘selective estrogen receptor modulator’ (SERM). Its metabolite is a potent competitive partial agonist to the oestrogen receptor.

37
Q

What are the adverse effects of tamoxifen?

A

Menstrual disturbance

Hot flushes

Venous thromboembolism

Increased risk of endometrial cancer

38
Q

What is the alternative to tamoxifen which has a lower risk of endometrial cancer associated with it?

A

Raloxifene

39
Q

What is the most common biological therapy used in the treatment of breast cancer?

A

Trastuzumab also called Herceptin. Used to treat HER2 positive tumours.

40
Q

What proportion of breast cancers are HER2 positive and therefore treatable with Herceptin?

A

20-25%

41
Q

What are the contraindications for Herceptin?

A

History of heart disease

ONCOLOGY AND PALLIATIVE CARE (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions