Breast screening Flashcards
When will a woman have breast screening?
Ages 47-73
once every 3 years
Disadvantages of breast screening
uncomfortable
small amount of radiation
false positives may cause unnecessary anxiety
occasionally misses a cancer
breast cancer may occur in the interval between screening appointments
may diagnose a cancer which never needed treating
how to advise women to prepare for a mammogram
need to undress to the waist
dont wear talcum powder or deodorant - can cause artefacts on mammogram
will be asked questions about breast history, HRT use and FH
all mammogramers are female
called every 3 years
get results in post within 2 weeks
Film is read independently by two radiographers or breast physicians to increase cancer detection rate. if two disagree, may discuss to come to an agreement or a third reader makes final decision
4/100 women recalled for further test after mammogram, 1 diagnosed with breast cancer
squashing breast won’t cause cancer to spread
screening available for high risk young women who have:
BRCA1/2
TP53 mutation
previous supradiaphragmatic irradiation for Hodgkins lymphoma
BRCA genes
produce tumour suppressor proteins which help repair damaged DNA
55-65% of those with BRCA 1 will develop breast cancer 45% of those with BRCA2
inherited autosomal dominant
risk only slightly increased in males with 1, higher in men with 2
1: long arm chromosome 17
2: long arm chromosome 13
Advantages and disadvantages of genetic testing
guilty if passes it on to children
stop worrying if negative
if positive at least I can do something about it
can manage risk
reduce stress or anxiety
offered different screening options
early detection more likely
some results can be inconclusive
current ban on use of genetic information for insurance purposes
takes a few weeks - months to receive results
options for managing risk of cancer
breast aware report any changes to GP ASAP
screening - annual MRI and mammogram from 40
manage RF
risk reducing surgery - mastectomy and oophorectomy and tamoxifen (BRCA2 mainly)
screening no longer needed after double masectomy
mastectomy reduces risk of breast cancer by 90%
if you have BRCA gene what is the chance you will pass it on to children
50%
