Breast cancer

Question 1

what % of women who present with a palpable breast masses have a diagnosis of cancer?

Answer 1

• 10%

Question 2

What % breaast cancers present with a palpable mass but not US/mammographic evidence of disease?

Answer 2

Approximately 4% of breast cancers

Question 3

What is breast cancer?

Answer 3

Cancer of the breast tissue

either

• primary invasive breast cancer
• breast cancer in situ

Question 4

What is primary invasive breast cancer?

Answer 4

Primary invasive breast cancer is a malignancy originating in the breast(s) and nodal basins

• may be classified into 3 stages, which are defined by the extent of disease.
• The term ‘invasive’ indicates that the malignancy has penetrated past the basement membrane of the duct or lobule of the breast and has spread to the surrounding tissues.

Question 5

What is breast cancer in situ?

Question 6

What are the different types & their associated incidences?

Answer 6

either: invasive or in-situ

in-situ <<

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

invasive >>

• No special type (NST)
• special types
• invasive ductal carcinoma >
• Invasive lobular carcinoma <
• Inflammatory breast cancer
• Paget’s disease of the breast

Question 7

What is the aeitiology of breast cancer?

Question 8

Name some risk factors for breast cancer

Question 9

Summarise the epidemiology of breast cancer

Answer 9

• most common cancer in women in the UK
• represents 16% of all cancers in women
• 1/3 most common cancer death overall

incidence

Question 10

What are the presenting symptoms of breast cancer (invasive)?

Answer 10

Breast lump

• characteristics??

Question 11

What are the presenting symptoms of breast cancer (in situ)?

Answer 11

breast lump

• can be nodular or smooth

Question 12

What are the signs of breast cancer i.e. invasive O/E?

Answer 12

• breast mass
  
  • irregular
  • fixed
• nipple changes
  
  • inversion
  • excoriation
• nipple discharge
  
  • watery, serous, milky, or bloody
• lymphadenopathy
  
  • ​axillary

Uncommon

• skin changes
  
  • thickening (e.g., peau d’orange)
  • dimpling
  • retraction

Question 13

What are the signs of breast cancer i.e. in situ O/E?

Answer 13

• nipple discharge
  
  • watery, serous, milky, or bloody
  • unilateral

uncommon:

• rash on breast
  
  • eczema-like
• skin ulceration

Question 14

What are the primary investigations for ?breast cancer?