Breast Cancer Flashcards
How many women does breast cancer affect?
1 in 8 women
How many men are affected by breast cancer?
Around 400 men in the UK each year are diagnosed
See surgery block for…
Breast Surgery and demographics/risk factors etc for breast cancer Flashcards!
Who gets radiotherapy for breast cancer?
Anyone who has had breast conserving surgery, and in high risk mastectomy cases
What 2 ways can we do sentinel node clearance?
With coloured or with radioactive markers.
Coloured marker can be seen with eyes, radioactive detected by a magic boob wand (probe).
What endocrine therapies can be given to breast cancer patients?
SERM (Tamoxifen)
Aromatase inhibitors e.g. letrozole
What biological therapies can be offered for breast cancer (if appropriate)?
Herceptin/Trastuzumab (HER2 monoclonal antibody)
What is Stage 0 breast cancer?
DCIS or LCIS (cancer cells only found in the membrane of ducts or lobules).
What is Stage 1 breast cancer?
Tumour less than 2cm and contained within breast
What is Stage 2 breast cancer?
Tumour is 2-5cm OR Has spread to nearby lymph nodes OR Both
What is Stage 3 breast cancer?
Cancer has spread to lymph nodes or invaded local structures (muscle or skin)
What is Stage 4 breast cancer?
Cancer with Mets.
What are the poor prognostic factors for breast cancer?
- Young age
- Large tumour size
- High grade
- ER negtive
- Positive lymph nodes
What % of pts who present to clinic wth nipple discharge have an underlying cancerous cause?
20%
What are the 2 views we can use in mammography?
Caudio-cranial
Medio-lateral
What is the classic description of breast cancer on mammography?
Irregular
Spiculated
Radio-opaque
Micro-calcifications
Are microcalcifications always malignant?
No but we should always check them out with biopsy+histology if we see them.
In younger patients, what can we do to image the breast tissue better?
MRI
What is the best first test for a breast lump? Why?
USS - can image the lump as well as lymph nodes, and get an idea of if the lump is malignant or not (shape/outline/shadow).
What are the benefits of FNA cytology?
Quick
Less uncomfortable
Lower morbidity
What is the benefit of a core biopsy?
Can determine receptor status and grade of tumour i.e. better for malignant masses
Where can breast cancer metastasise?
Lung Liver Bone Brain Adrenals Ovaries
When would axillary clearance be indicated (over sentinel lymph node biopsy)?
In malignancy with suspicious nodes
Who can we use oestrogen antagonists in?
Pre- and post- menopause women
Who can we use aromatase inhibitors in?
Post-menopausal women only
What is Paget’s disease of the breast?
Infiltrating carcinoma of the nipple epithelium
How common is Paget’s diseas of the breast?
1% of all breast cancers
What % of breast cancer cases are metastatic at diagnosis?
5%
Where should I do the rest of these questions from?
Breast Surger cards in Surgical Block deck
