Lecture cancer

Question 1

A tumour that fluctuates with the menstrual cycle …

Answer 1

is NOT cancer

Question 2

What do the following three receptors indicate about the prognosis/type of the cancer?

 Estrogen- or progesterone-receptor
 Her2neu-receptor

Answer 2

Estrogen- or progesterone positive = hormonal cancer
Her2neu-receptor positive = makes the disease very aggressive

Worst outcome = triple negative

Question 3

Which clinical/pathological parameters correlate with poor prognosis?

Answer 3

• Size of tumor
• Lymph node involvement
• Age
• Differentiation grade
• Type of breast cancer

Question 4

What is lumpectomy and mastectomy?

Answer 4

Surgery: lumpectomy = keeping the breast. Just as good as when entire breast is removed
Mastectomy = removal of entire breast

Question 5

Why choose mastectomy?

Answer 5

 Tumour might be too large
 Cosmetic results not nice
 Radiotherapy a challenge (Higher chance of needing radiotherapy with lumpectomy)

Question 6

What is SN procedure + when is it performed?

Answer 6

When the lymph nodes appear not to be involved.

= fluid is injected around the tumour. During surgery, the surgeon looks at which lymph node contains ink. Lymph node is taken out to see whether tumour cells are present. If not: no further treatment, otherwise radiotherapy.

Question 7

what is the aim of adjuvant therapy?

Answer 7

= Chance of metastasis. The chance she will have this is high. Adjuvent treatment may reduce the chance of metastasis ever occurring.

Question 8

Why is a mammogram not useful for women under 50?

Answer 8

it cannot differentiate as well between tumour and gland tissue.

Question 9

What are the goals of chemo, besides ‘removing’ cancer?

Answer 9

Prolong lifespan
Increase quality of life