breast cancer Flashcards
3 advantages of early diagnosis
1) reduced risk of metastatic disease
2) reduced risk of local recurrence
3) reduced requirement for less radical therapy
what are the treatments for breast cancer?
1) surgery for tumour control in breast and axillary lymph nodes
2) radiotherapy before operation - reduces local recurrence risk
3) chemotherapy: hormonal therapy to treat undetectable metastases
where do tumours in the breast start?
the ducts or lobules
why is invasive breast cancer especially dangerous?
- invasive tumour spreads to surrounding tissue
- areas nearby are skin/muscles by metastasis, lymph nodes via lymphatic system, vital organs via blood stream
when are people screened for breast cancer, i.e. mammography?
- women aged 47-73 yrs invited every three years
- asymptomatic women to search for abnormalities associated with breast cancer
what is mammography used for?
- screening for breast cancer
- biopsy of mass visible mass
- biopsy of micro calcification
- guiding hookwire for non-palpable (feelable) abnormality before biopsy/removal
why are mammographies less used for under 35yr olds?
younger women have denser breasts so mammography less reliable
what are the advantages of ultrasound in breast cancer imaging?
- under 35s/pregnant/breast feeding
- detection of small masses and cysts
- provides definition for solid masses and differentiating between benign and malignant lesions
when is MRI used for breast cancer imaging?
- solving problems that US and mammography have not
- screening high risk, young women especially invasive cancer
- staging local tumour
- complications of breast implants
what is PACS?
- picture archiving and communications
- large computer storage for images
- images instantly recalled
what are advantages of PACS?
software allows image manipulation and measurement functions
