breast cancer Flashcards
What does ER receptor positive mean?
- It describes whether or not the breast cancer has oestrogen receptors.
- Further to this, if the Ca. is ER +ve then the cancer cells grow in response to the hormone estrogen
What % of breast cancers are ER +ve?
About 70% of breast cancers are ER positive
What does HER2 positive mean?
It means that the breast cancer has high numbers of receptors for the protein HER2 (human epidermal growth factor 2)
What is used to treat HER2 cancers?
Herceptin → trastuzumab
What is a triple negative breast cancer?
Breast cancer that has no receptors fo HER2, oestrogen and progesterone.
What is tamoxifen?
- Tamoxifen is a Selective oEstrogen-Receptor Modulator (SERM)
- It is used to treat ER +ve Breast cancer
What are the side effects of Tamoxifen?
- Increased risk of uterine cancer → Endometrial cancer
- Stroke
- Vision problems
- Pulmonary embolism
What does tamoxifen do?
It is an Oestrogen receptor antagonist for breast tissue.
What is it important to remember about HER2 recpetor breast cancers?
They are aggressive and fast growing.
What Gene are triple negative breast cancers associated with?
BRCA1
What do the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes do?
They maintain healthy breast cells → they help repair damaged DNA, or destroy cells if DNA cannot be repaired
What are mutations in BRCA1 associated with?
- Breast and Ovarian are the big 2
- Also associated with:
→ Prostate
→ colon
→ pancreas
What are mutations in BRCA2 associated with?
- Breast and Ovarian are the big 2
- Also associated with:
→ Prostate
→ colon
→ pancreas
→ stomach
→ melanoma
What does DCIS stand for?
Ductal carcinoma in situ
What does LCIS stand for?
Lobular carcinoma in situ
What is sometimes seen as cacification on mamograms?
DCIS
What are signs and symptoms of early breast cancer?
- Change in breast size or shape
- Skin dimpling or skin changes
- Recent nipple inversion or skin change, or nipple abnormalities
- Single-duct discharge, particularly if blood-stained
- Axillary lump
What are some risk factors associated with breast cancer?
Risk is primarily associated with family Hx, Age and uninterupted oestrogen exposure →
- Nullparity
- 1st pregnancy >30yrs old/ not breastfeeding
- early menarche/ late menopause
- HRT
- Obesity
- BRCA gene mutations/ past Breast cancer
What is the triple investigation for breast cancer?`
Clinical examination + histology/cytology + Mammography/ultrasound
What is the most common breast cancer?
Invasive ductal carcinoma (~70%)
What is the 2nd most common form of breast cancer?
Invasive lobular carcinoma (~10-15%)
Which breast cancer is associated with younger people?
Medullary carcinomas
What is sentinel node biopsy?
- Patent blue dye or radioactive colloid are injected into the tumour.
- The node that takes up the dye is the sentinel node.
- This is biopsied to assess nodal involvement.
Why is nodal involvement so important in breast cancer?
because it signifies a dramatic drop in predicted survival rates.
