Breast Cancer Flashcards
What can be used if a patient is Her2 positive?
Herceptin
When is total mastectomy indicated?
When the patient is a carrier of a high risk gene - eg BRCA1 or 2
Or when wide local excision and radiotherapy is contraindicated
What is the mechanism of action of aromatase inhibitors?
Block the conversion of testosterone to oestrogens to reduce the tissue concentration of oestrogen
What lifestyle factors can be modified to reduce the risk of breast cancer reoccurence?
Avoid weight gain
Exercise
Where does breast cancer metastasize to?
Bone
Lung/liver
Brain
What are the two endocrine therapy for breast cancer?
Oestrogen receptor antagonist - tamoxifen
Aromatase inhibitors - eg Anastrozole
What types of cancers on FHx that increase the risk of breast cancer?
Breast cancer
Ovarian cancer
Prostate
Familial gastric cancer
What investigations are helpful in breast Ca?
Ultrasound
Mammography
Biopsy
What types of biopsies are there for breast Ca?
Fine needle aspirate
Core biopsy
Incisional biopsy
Excisional biopsy
What is the most likely diagnosis of a new lump in a young woman?
Fibroadenoma
Cyst
Fibrocyst tissue
Cancer
When is radiotherapy contraindicated?
When it has been performed previously
When the patient has scleroderma
Why does obesity increase the risk of breast cancer?
It increases the person’s exposure to oestrogen
What is the recommended breast cancer screening?
1 mammography every two years for women 50-75 years
What regimen provides better reduction of risk of recurrence of breat cancer; total mastectomy or wide local excision and radiotherapy?
They are equvalent
What is tamoxifen?
An oestrogen receptor antagonist
