History and Assessment

Question 1

Triple assessment consists of …

Answer 1

History and examination

Imaging

Histology

Question 2

How would you enquire about systemic effects of metastatic breast cancer ?

Answer 2

Shortness of breath - lung mets

MSK pain - bone mets

Confusion - brain mets

Question 3

Key symptoms to look out for

Answer 3

Nipple discharge and bleeding

Nipple ulceration

Nipple inversion

Mastalgia

Breast lump

Fever

Weight loss

Malaise

Lymphadenopathy

Dimpling

Bone pain

Question 4

Risk factor of breast malignancy

Answer 4

Smoking

Past breast history

Family history of breast/ovarian cancer

Alcohol

Continuous combined HRT

Radiation to chest (many X-rays/CTs)

Any factors that imply prolonged exposure to oestrogen e.g. nulliparous, early menarche, obesity

Question 5

Imaging techniques

Answer 5

Mammography and USS

Question 6

25 year old woman needs imaging - what scan should you send her for ?

Answer 6

USS - more useful in women under 35 due to density of breast tissue

Question 7

Normal colour nipple discharge ?

Answer 7

Green