Breast Cancer Flashcards
Breast Cancer Screening Programme
all women aged 50 to 71 who are registered with a GP get invited for a mammogram every 3 years
who develops breast cancer
1 in 8 women develop breast cancer
0.8% male
Mainly between 50-71
risk factors for breast cancer
oestrogen exposure over lifetime - early menopause, late menopause, later age of pregnancy, no pregnancy, HRT. hereditary syndrome (BRCA mutation)
most common type of breast cancer
adenocarcinoma derived from epithelial tissue from lobules or ducts
lobular carcinoma in situ
Ductal carcinoma in situ
high grade dysplasia in the lobules/ducts called
earliest stage, not yet malignant
what are invasive carcinomas that develop in the lobules/ducts called
lobular / ductal carcinomas
Aetiology of breast cancer
uncontrolled growth of epithelial cells in the breast
main parts of the breast
Glandular tissue
stroma (adipose)
lymphatic vessles
describe glandular tissue of the breast
made up of 15-20 lobules
inside each lobule is alveoli (modified sweat glands)
these alveolar cells secrete milk
how does milk pass through the breast
alveolar cells produce milk
myoepithelial cells squeeze and push the milk out of the lumen, into the lactiferous duct and out one of the pores on the nipple
coopers ligerments
suspensory ligaments that run through the stroma and help keep it in place
blood supply of the breast
laterally axillary
medially - internal thoracic artery
lymphatic drainage of the breast
mainly axillary lymph nodes but also mammary chain
which hormones cause alveolar cells to divide and increase in number
oestrogen, progesterone, prolactin
genes that can cause increased risk of breast cancer if mutated
BRCA 1/2 and TP53, HER 2
paget disease of the nipple
cancerous cells from a DCIS migrate along the lactiferous duct, through the pore and onti the skin of the nipple. The cancer cells secrete mobility factor which allows them to get between the epithelial cells. this causes inflammation, which brings extracellular fluid out through pores in the nipple, which dries and forms a crust
natural progression of LCIS
clusters of tumour cells grow within the lobules. less common than DCIS. this causes alveoli to enlarge. doesnt invade
3 types of breast cancer (hormone)
oestrogen receptor (ER positive and HER2 negative), most common
HER2 positive and ER negative
HER2, ER neg
complications of breast cancer
tumour causes local inflammation, damaging the suspensory ligaments and lactiferus ducts and causing fibrosis
invades nearby tissues (like pec muscles or skin)
block lymph,which causes lymph build up in interstitial space and causes the skin to dimple
mets - bone, lung, brain
symptoms of breast cancer
hard painless lump (lateral upper quadrant)
dimpling of skin (lymph)
Retraction of the nipples (fibrosis)
crusting, itchy, discharge of the nipples (pagets disease)
