Test #2 Flashcards
Where is colon cancer
In the large intestine
What cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths and the 3rd most common form of cancer
Colorectal cancer
What are the majority of causes of Colorectal cancer
DNA mutations are more common (inheriting the cancer is less common)
What are risk factors for Colorectal cancer (a lot)
- Having a first degree relative with colorectal cancer and/or inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis or polyps.
- Increase in age
- Having a relative who was diagnosed under 50
- Having two or more family members diagnosed with Colorectal cancer
- Family history of lynch syndrome
- Having an abnormal (mutation) KRAS gene (gene helps control growth, under normal function)
- Familial adenomatous polyposis (family member with Colorectal cancer)
- Minority groups are often diagnosed in later stages (access to care)
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Processed meats like salami and low fiber diet (processed meats can be carcinogenetic, and fiber is needed to help clear these out)
- Two or more alcoholic drinks per day.
What is the most common type of Colorectal cancer and what causes it
Adenocarcinoma caused by adenomatous polyps
Where are the most common sites of metastasis for adenocarcinoma 5
- Regional lymph nodes
- Liver
- Lungs
- Bones
- Brain
What are some common clinical manifestations of Colorectal cancer 6
- Change in bowel habits like diarrhea or constipation, snake like bowel movements, because stool is trying to pass through the cancer
- Feeling like you need to evacuate after you’ve already gone poop
- Bright red rectal bleeding or dark, tarry stools (so acute and chronic bleeding)
- Abdominal cramping or pain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
If Colorectal cancer is in the ascending colon, what might be some symptoms 4
- Pain
- Mass
- Change in bowel habits
- Anemia
If Colorectal cancer is in the Transverse colon, what might be some symptoms 4
- Pain
- Obstruction
- Change in bowel habits
- Anemia
If Colorectal cancer is in the descending colon, what might be some symptoms
- Pain
- Change in bowel habits
- Bright red blood in stool
- Obstruction 4
If Colorectal cancer is in the rectum, what might be some symptoms 3
- Blood in stool
- Change in bowel habits
- Rectal discomfort
What ages should you be screened for colorectal cancer
45-75.
75-85 decide between you and your doctor if you need the screenings.
85 and older, no screenings.
What types of screenings might they do
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years (only goes into the sigmoid colon)
- Colonoscopy every 10 years
- Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years
- CT colonography every 5 years
- Test of blood in the stool using a high sensitivity fecal occult blood test (FOBT) yearly or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) yearly
Who are going to need earlier screenings for colorectal cancer before the age of 45 2
- If they have a first degree relative who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 60
- If they have two or more first degree relatives with colorectal cancer
How can we diagnosis colorectal cancer
Perform a diagnostic colonoscopy and obtain a tissue biopsy during the colonoscopy (may also remove a polyp during the colonoscopy).
What illness do we often find with colorectal cancer? Why?
Anemia, because they usually have bleeding in their colon. (check CBC)
When evaluating a patient with colorectal cancer, what function test do we want to look for? What levels should this be at?
Liver function test - because it often metastases to the liver.
AST: 7-56
ALT: 5-40
What does a tumor marker tell us? What is the name of the tumor marker that can indicate that a person has colorectal cancer?
They can tell us if cancer is happening. It is called carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).
Why are tumor markers not a good screening method
Because there are a large number of false positives - biopsy is the only definitive tool to diagnosis.
What are the other types of diagnostic studies we can use to help diagnosis and monitor cancer? 5
- CT guided needle biopsy to help guide to get a biopsy (can help detect in lymph nodes, liver and lungs)
- Ultrasound (look at abdominal endorectal, intraoperative (liver))
- MRI (Liver, brain, spinal cord)
- Chest xray (lungs)
- Angiography (shows arteries that supply the tumor)
What scan is not routinely done for colorectal cancer
PET scan
Why is it so important to get colorectal cancer screenings?
Because in the early stages it is often asymptomatic (usually symptoms will appear, like rectal bleeding, in the later stages)
What are the stages of colorectal cancer
0: cancer has not grown beyond the inner layer of the colon wall
1: cancer has grown to the outer layer
2: tumor is through the wall, but has not spread to lymph nodes
3: cancer has spread to lymph nodes
4: cancer has spread to distant sites in the body
What is one of the biggest interventions for colorectal cancer
Surgery
What are the surgical goals for colorectal cancer 5
- Take out the tumor
- Explore the abdomen to make sure all of the cancer is out
- Look to see if the cancer has metastasized
- Remove lymph nodes that drain the area
- Restore the bowel so the patient can still have GI function
What is a polypectomy
Removing a polyp during a colonoscopy
When will they do a polypectomy 3
- The area around the polyp is free from cancer
- The cancer is well differentiated
- No apparent involvement of lymphatic or blood vessels of the cancer
What is it called when they remove the right or the left side of the bowel
Hemicolectomy
How does a hemicolectomy work
Will be done laparoscopically where they remove the right or left side of the bowel, depending on where the cancer is located, and then sew up the cancer-free ends.
With a hemicolectomy, at what stages would they perform it
- Stage 1: remove the tumor and at least 5cm of surrounding intestine and nearby lymph nodes
- Stage 2 (low risk): wide resection and reanastomosis (reattaching colon back together)
- Stage 2 (high risk): same as low risk, but with chemo
- Stage 3: Surgery and chemo
- Stage 4: Surgery is palliative, chemo and radiation used to control spread and help with pain
What are the two surgical options if the cancer is in the rectum
- Abdominal-perineal resection (APR) with a permanent colostomy (entire rectum was removed with the tumor)
- Low anterior resection (LAR) to preserve sphincter function (may have temporary colostomy or ileostomy, and then a takedown to remove colostomy or ileostomy so they can have control of their bowels)
What are 3 reasons why someone might have a temporary colostomy after colorectal cancer surgery
- Perforation (in surgery)
- Peritonitis (inflammation)
- Hemodynamic instability
What is a J-pouch
If all or a large portion of a person’s large intestine is removed, then a pouch can be created from the ilium (which is at the end of the small intestine) and can be attached to the sphincter, so that person can still have bowel movements.
What is a coloplasty
Can be used for someone with colorectal cancer, where a pouch is made from a portion of the large intestine that wasn’t removed. This portion is stretched so a new pouch can be made to carry stool.
For someone with a j-pouch or coloplasty, what might they experience
Urgency and frequency to have a bowel movement as the new pouch stretches
What are the 3 reasons to have chemo if you have colorectal cancer
- Neoadjuvant (shrink tumor before surgery)
- Adjuvant (shrink tumor following resection)
- Palliative
What does targeted therapy do 3
- Angiogenesis inhibitors block the blood supply to the tumor(s)
- Also block epidermal growth factor (blocks proteins that help the cancer grow)
- BRAF inhibitors attack the BRAF protein to shrink or slow cancer growth
When we are getting a past health history from a patient, what things are we looking for that might indicate a risk for colorectal cancer 5
- Previous breast or ovarian cancer
- Familial polyposis
- Villous adenoma
- Adenomatous polyps
- Inflammatory bowel disease
What specific tx can lead to colorectal cancer
Treatment for breast cancer
When assessing our patient for potential colorectal cancer, what do we want to ask 6
- What medications they’re taking
- If they’ve had any weakness or fatigue
- Have they had a change in bowel habits
- Have they been eating a high calorie, high fat, low fiber diet
- Have they had increased flatus
- Do they have feelings of incomplete evacuation
What prep should be done prior to a colonoscopy 4
- Low fiber diet 72 hours prior.
- Clear or full liquid diet 24 hours prior.
- Evening before drink half of the cleansing solution
- 4-6 hours before drink the remaining.
What is prostate cancer? What type of cancer causes it?
It’s a mostly slow growing androgen-dependent cancer caused by adenocarcinoma (which is cancer living in glands)
How does prostate cancer spread
- Direct extension (touching something) involves seminal vesicles, urethreal mucosa, bladder wall and external sphincter
- Through lymph nodes
- Through the bloodstream via the axial skeleton (pelvic bone, head of femur, lower lumbar spine, liver and lungs).
What are risk factors for prostate cancer a lot
- Age, typically after 50
- Higher incidence in African Americans and Caribbean men of African ancestry
- More common in North America, NW Europe, Australia and Caribbean islands
- Can be inherited but usually occurs without family history
- Mutations can raise the risk but occurrence is a small percentage
- Common with mutations in same genes that cause breast cancer like BRCA 1 and 2 genes (hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome)
- Lynch syndrome.
- Diet (dairy products, excessive calcium intake)
- Obesity
- Environment (agent orange, firefighters)
- 3 or more first-degree relatives with prostate cancer
- prostate cancer in 3 generations on the same side of the family
- 2 or more close relatives on the same side diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 55
Is there a single gene known to cause prostate cancer? Are there genetic tests to be done to see if you are at risk for prostate cancer?
No and No
What are the 3 ways that someone can have prostate cancer
- Sporadic (damage to genes occurs by chance after a person is born - most common)
- Familial (genetics and environment)
- Hereditary (gene passed down - very rare)
If you are trying to prevent prostate cancer, what supplement should you not take unless indicated by your provider
Calcium supplements (dairy products and calcium can cause an increase in risk)
What does having hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome due to mutations in the BRCA 1 and 2 genes put men and women at increased risk for
- Men: increased risk for breast and prostate cancer
- Women: increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer
What are manifestations of prostate cancer 3
- May be no symptoms in the early stages
- Eventually patient may experience LUTS symptoms similar to BPH
- ED
What are signs that prostate cancer has spread 2
- Pain in lumbosacral area that radiates down to hips or legs in combination with urinary symptoms
- Numbness/weakness in legs/feet and/or loss of bowel or bladder function (caused by spinal cord compression from tumor)
What are LUTS (lower urinary tract) symptoms that may indicate prostate cancer (similar to BPH) 6
- Urgency
- Hematuria (bloody urine)
- Nocturia
- Retention
- Interruption of urinary stream
- Inability to urinate
What are the 2 ways that we can diagnosis prostate cancer
- Digital rectal exam
- PSA test (prostate-specific antigen) is a glycoprotein produced by the prostate gland (primary screening)
What are normal PSA levels
0-4. Above 4 may indicate prostate cancer or other problems. (if above 4 they will do a biopsy to confirm) (4-10 may or may not have it). (above 10 is 50% chance they may have it)
What is interesting about prostate cancer
Most men live with prostate cancer, but will not die from it (if it’s super slow-growing, it may not even be treated)
When should screenings start for prostate cancer 3
- Start at the age of 50 for average risk
- Start at the age of 45 for higher risk (African American men and men who have a first degree relative with prostate cancer at an early age)
- Start at 40 for even higher risk (more than one 1st degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age)
After you’ve been initially screened, what are your need screening recommendations for prostate cancer 2
- Screened every 2 years if PSA was less than 2.5
- Screened yearly if PSA was higher than 2.5
Does elevated PSA levels indicate prostate cancer? If not, what can elevated PSA levels indicate?
No - elevated PSA levels do not necessarily indicate prostate cancer, it may due to
- Aging
- BPH (enlarged prostate)
- Recent ejaculation
- Constipation
- Acute or chronic prostatitis
- After long bike rides (causes inflammation of the prostate)
- Certain urologic procedures
- Some medications
How might we obtain a biopsy for prostate cancer 2
- Transrectal ultrasound procedure
- MRI/ultrasound fusion biopsy
Will we continue to monitor PSA levels after a patient has been diagnosed with prostate cancer
Yes, PSA levels are used to monitor treatment success and recurrence of cancer. (a rising or detectable PSA, may indicate recurrence)
Besides PSA, what is another indicator of prostate cancer
- Increase in PAP (prostatic acid phosphatase), especially if cancer has spread
What tests will they perform to determine the location and extent of metastasis in prostate cancer 6
- Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)
- Bone scan
- CT scan
- MRI using an endorectal probe
- Lymph node biopsy
- Biopsy during surgery
What two medications may be used to reduce the chance of needing surgery for prostate cancer
Finasteride and dutasteride (which are used to treat BPH)
What are the 2 ways that prostate cancer is staged and graded
- TNM system (0-4 stages)
- Gleason scale (tumors are graded from 1, which is well-differentiated to 5, which is undifferentiated. Grades are given to the two most common patterns of cells and are added together. Scores range from 2-10). (the higher the number, the worst prognosis)
What is the surgical option for prostate cancer
Radical prostatectomy (where they remove the prostate)
- Entire gland, seminal vesicles and part of the bladder neck are removed
- Retroperineal lymph node dissection is done for men at a higher risk for metastasis
- Not indicated for advanced stages, unless it’s to relieve obstruction, because the cancer has spread all over
What is our post-op care after a patient has a radical prostatectomy 3
- Pt will have an indwelling catheter with possible continuous bladder irrigation
- Surgical site drain
- 1-3 day hospital stay
What are major/common complications from a radical prostatectomy
- ED
- Incontinence/urinary retention
- Hemorrhage
- Infection
- Wound dehiscence
- DVTs or PEs
If we want to help a man regain their bladder function, what can we suggest.
Kegels (like you’re trying to stop your stream - don’t do during urination)
Can cryotherapy help to treat prostate cancer
Yes, you can use very cold temperatures to freeze and kill prostate cancer cells
(not a first line treatment - probably done after chemo or radiation fail)
(probe goes into the rectum to freeze the prostrate, warm salt water goes into the urethra to keep that from freezing)
What might be some complications after cryotherapy 8
- Damage to the urethra
- Urethrorectal fistula
- Urethrocutaneous fistula
- Tissue sloughing
- ED
- Urinary incontinence
- Prostatitis
- Hemorrhage
What is the most common type of radiation used
External beam radiation
What is external beam radiation used to treat for prostate cancer
When the cancer is confined to the prostate and/or surrounding tissue (not if it has spread all over)
What is interesting about external beam radiation and a radical prosectomy
Cure rates are about the same
What are common side effects of radiation
- Skin irritation, burns
- Urinary issues (painful, difficult, leakage, blood in urine)
- Frequent urination
- Diarrhea
- Painful, bowel movements
- Frequent bowel movements
- Bloody stool
- Fatigue
- ED
- Secondary cancers to that area
What is another type of radiation where they implant radioactive seeds into the prostate gland
Brachytherapy
What is the benefit of bracytherapy
It spares the surrounding tissue, as opposed to external beam radiation
When is brachytherapy administered
Early stages of the prostate cancer
What are common side effects of brachytherapy
- ED
- Irritative or obstructive urinary problems (frequency, bloody, etc)
- Issues with bowels.
(basically the same urinary and bowel symptoms as external beam radiation)
What might brachytherapy be offered with
In combination with external beam radiation for advanced tumors
What are treatment options for advanced or metastatic prostate cancer
- Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) (androgens, like testosterone supply the cancer. So lowering these androgens will help shrink or cause the cancer to grow more slowly over time)
- Chemo
- Combination
What is interesting about the transgender population and hormone therapy to treat cancer
There is a possibility that transgender male to female, taking estrogen, may decrease prostate cancer risk. (but taking estrogen increases breast cancer risk for both men and women)
When is chemo primarily used for prostate cancer
- Used when the cancer is not responding to changes in hormones (like blocking testosterone)
What is the most common chemo for prostate cancer
Docetaxel
When might radiotherapy, radium-223 dichloride be used to treat prostate cancer and when not?
For patients with:
- Castration-resistant prostate cancer (not responding to low T levels)
- Symptomatic bone metastases (given for metastases in the bone)
- Not given if known visceral metastatic disease (like in liver lungs, etc)
How does an orchiectomy (surgical removal of the testes) help to fight prostate cancer? What are the benefits? Is it commonly performed?
- Causes androgen deprivation (reduces androgens - basically starve the cancer from testosterone)
- Very low cost
- Facilitates cancer control and rapid relief of bone pain in advanced stages
- Rarely performed today because it has horrible side effects (depression, fatigue, low muscle mass, etc - just not good for men)
When screening for prostate cancer, what medications should we be concerned that a patient is taking 5
- Testosterone supplements
- Morphine (can increase risk)
- Anticholinergics
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (can disrupt androgen receptor signaling)
- Tricyclic antidepressants (can increase prostate cancer risk)
Is low back pain radiating to legs or pelvis, bone pain symptoms of prostate cancer metastasis
Yes
Why is smoking so bad for you 3
- Contains 60 carcinogens that interfere with cell development
- There are 7,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke
- Causes a change in bronchial epithelium
If you quit smoking, after 10-15 years, how much is your risk of lung cancer decreased
By half for a person who is still smoking
What are the risks for lung cancer 7
- Total number of cigarettes smoked
- Age of smoking onset
- Depth of inhalation
- Use of unfiltered cigarettes
- Second hand smoke
- Maybe vaping
- Other carcinogens (pollution, radiation, asbestos, nickel, uranium, chromium, formaldehyde, arsenic)
What is the pathophysiology of lung cancer 4
- Arise from mutated epithelia cells
- Tumor development is promoted by epidermal growth factor
- It takes 8-10 years for a tumor to reach 1cm (which will let it be detectable on xray) (can have cancer for a long time before they even can tell)
- Occur primarily in segmental bronchi and upper lobes
What are the 2 main categories of lung cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Small-cell lung cancer
What are the 3 categories of non-small cell lung cancer
- Adenocarcinoma
- Large cell
- Squamous cell
Describe adenocarcinoma 4
- Moderate growing
- Most common lung cancer in nonsmokers
- Surgery may be available
- Does not respond well to chemo
Describe large-cell carcinoma 4
- Highly metastatic by lymph node and blood
- No surgery due to high rate of metastasis
- Rapid growing
- Tumors may be radiosensitive but often reoccur
Describe squamous cell carcinoma 3
- Early symptoms include cough, hemoptysis
- Does not have a strong tendency to metastases
- Surgery may be tried, with chemo and radiation
Describe small-cell lung cancer 7
- Very rapid growth
- Most malignant
- Early metastasis (lymph and blood stream(
- Associated endocrine disorders
- Surgery is not generally an option
- Can have chemo and radiation
- Poor prognosis
How is lung cancer metastasized 3
- Direct extension
- Blood circulation
- Lymph system
Where does lung cancer go 5
- Lymph nodes
- Liver
- Brain
- Bones
- Adrenal glands
What is paraneoplastic syndrome associated with lung cancer
Immune system is attacking the tumor, tumor begins secreting hormones, cytokines and enzymes, which then start attacking the patient’s healthy cells.
What is the issue with diagnosing lung cancer early
Lung cancer is often masked by a chronic cough, so someone with COPD may not even realize that something is wrong
Besides a chronic cough, what are other early symptoms of lung cancer 6 (symptoms depend on what type and where the lung cancer is located)
- Pneumonitis (presents as chest pain)
- Sputum with cough
- Hemoptysis
- Dyspnea
- Wheezing
- Chest pain
What are later symptoms of lung cancer 10
- Anorexia
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- N/V
- Hoarseness
- Unilateral paralysis of diaphragm
- Dysphagia
- Superior vena cava obstruction
- Palpable lymph nodes
- Mediastinal involvement
How can we diagnosis lung cancer and metastasis (a lot)
- Chest xray
- CT scan
- Sputum cytology (rarely used)
- Lung biopsy for definitive diagnosis
- Pleural fluid analysis
- Bone scans
- CT scans of brain, pelvis, abdomen
- CBC with differential
- Chemistry panel
- Liver, renal, and pulmonary function tests
- MRI
- PET scan
How is non-small lung cancer staged
Uses the TNM system
What does TNM stand for
T: tumor size, location and degree of invasion
N: indicates regional lymph node invasion
M: represents presence/absence of distant metastases
What are the 4 stages of non-small cell lung cancer
Stage 1: tumor is small and localized, no lymph node involvement.
Stage 2: Tumor has increased in size, greater than 5cm, and has some lymph node involvement
Stage 3: Tumor has spread to nearby tissues
Stage 4: Distant metastasis
How do they stage small cell lung cancer
- TNM is not useful
- It’s an aggressive cancer that is always considered systemic
- Staged as limited or extensive
When do we screen for lung cancer? How do we screen?
- Annually in people aged 50-80 with good health and currently smoke or have quit smoking in the past 15 years
- Annually in people who have at least a 20 pack smoking history
(both are completed with a low dose CT)
How do we find a persons pack year smoking
Number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked.
What is the early treatment of choice for early staged non small lung cancer
Surgery (not indicated for small cell, because you’re not going to be able to find all of the sites of metastasis in the lungs)
What are the 4 surgical options for lung cancer (for stages 1-3)
- Wedge resection (removal of a little triangle chunk)
- Lobectomy (removal of a lobe)
- Segmental resection (part of the lobe)
- Pneumonectomy (removing one of the lungs)
If a patient cannot tolerate surgery for lung cancer, what is our next option
Radiation therapy (can be curative, palliative or adjuvant)
What is stereotactic radiotherapy 3
- Works to target the area without minimal impact to surrounding tissue
- Doesn’t kill the cancer, but kills the DNA of the tumor, which then causes the tumor to lose it’s ability to reproduce and then it shrinks)
- Given over 1-3 days
What is the primary treatment for small cell lung cancer
Chemo
How can targeted therapy work on lung cancer
Blocks tumor growth and proteins responsible for growth and development
What are our 3 types of inhibitors for targeted therapy
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (blocks growth signals)
- Kinase inhibitors (inhibits protein that help cancer grow and develop)
- Angiogenesis inhibitors (blocks cancer cells from making own blood supply)
What are 3 other therapies for lung cancer
- Prophylactic cranial therapy used for small cell lung cancer to prevent cerebral metastasis (because most chemos don’t cross the blood brain barrier)
- Bronchoscopic laser therapy to remove obstructing tumors in the airway
- Photodynamic therapy used in very early stage lung cancers in outer layers of airways using light
To help control symptoms caused by airway obstructions from lung cancer, what can be done
Airway stenting, which can help relieve dyspnea, cough, or respiratory insufficiency
What is radiofrequency ablation
Using an electrical current to heat and destroy tumor cells for non small lung cancer
What medications might indicate a possible lung cancer diagnosis
Someone who has been taking cough medicines or other respiratory medications because they are treating the symptoms
What objective data might indicate lung cancer when performing our physical assessments 8
- Fever, chills
- Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes)
- Paraneoplastic syndrome
- Jaundice
- Edema
- Clubbing
- Adventitious lung sounds
- Pleural effusions
What are other problems that may be associated with lung cancer 5
- Pericardial effusion
- Dysrhythmias
- Unsteady gait
- Pathologic fractures
- Muscle wasting
What are the screening guidelines for breast cancer (for women who have an average risk)
- Women 40-44 have the option to start having a mammogram every year
- Women 45-54 should get a mammogram every year
- Women 55 and older can switch to every other year or continue to have one every year (continue screenings if a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 years)
Should women only use breast self exams as a screening
No, they need to do them in conjunction with mammograms
What screenings should a woman get if she is at an increased risk? And at what age?
At age 30, start having mammograms and breast MRIs
How do mammograms work
- Take the first image and compare it each year to your next mammogram
- Can detect breast cancer before it’s felt
Do mammograms detect all breast cancers
No, about 10-15% cannot be seen, and will need a follow-up palpitation, ultrasonography, MRI or biopsy
What type of mammogram might a younger woman have
A digital mammogram, as they are more accurate in younger women
What are the different breast cancer biopsies
- Fine needle aspiration (taking a small amount of tissue)
- Core needle (for larger samples
- Surgery (excisional)
- Lymph node biopsy
What are nonmodifiable risk factors for breast cancer
- Females are at high risk
- Age 55-60
- Genetics
- Family history (especially if you have a father or brother with breast cancer)
- Personal history of breast cancer (can develop a different type)
- Race (white women are slightly higher risk)
- Being taller
- Having dense breast tissue (difficult to see on mammogram)
- Having certain benign breast conditions
- Early menarche and late menopause (being exposed to estrogen longer)
What are modifiable risk factors for breast cancer
- Alcohol
- Obesity (having more fatty tissue after menopause - estrogen can store here)
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Not bearing children (stop producing estrogen during pregnancy)
- Not breastfeeding (stop producing estrogen during breastfeeding)
- Hormonal birth control
- Hormonal therapy after menopause
- Smoking
- Dietary fat intake
- Environmental factors
- Breast implants
What are breast cancer risk factors for men 3
- Hyperestrogenism (testicular tumor, hyperthyroidism, liver disease, adrenal disease)
- Family history of breast cancer
- Radiation exposure to chest area
What if a man finds out that they have the BRCA mutation
- They should have breast and prostate screenings yearly starting at age 35 (this mutation also increases risk for prostate cancer)
Do men get mammograms
No
If you find out that you are at high risk for developing breast cancer, such as having the BRCA 1 and 2 mutations, what can be done?
You can have prophylactic oophorectomy (removing ovaries) and a mastectomy, which can decrease your risk of breast and ovarian cancer
Why would it be beneficial to remove your ovaries before menopause?
Because they are the main source of estrogen
Does removing your ovaries after menopause decrease breast cancer risk
No
What are the two main categories of breast cancer
- Ductal carcinoma (affects milk ducts)
- Lobular carcinoma (affects milk-producing glands
Besides ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma, what are 3 other categories of breast cancer
- Inflammatory
- Paget’s disease
- Phyllodes
What are the 4 types of ductal carcinoma
- In situ vs invasive
- Medullary
- Tubular
- Colloid (mucinous)
What is ductal carcinoma in situ 4
- About 1 in every 5 new breast cancers
- Pre-invasive
- Nearly all women can be cured if it’s found early
- Cells that line the ducts have turned into cancer, but have not spread
What is invasive ductal carcinoma 3
- Most common type of breast cancer
- About 8-10 invasive cancer
- Start in cells that line the ducts and breakthrough to nearby tissue, lymph system and then into the blood stream
What is medullary ductal carcinoma 4
- Rare subtype of invasive
- Called medullary because the tumor develops soft tissue that looks like the medulla of the brain
- Does not grow quickly
- Usually does not spread outside of breast or lymph nodes, making it easier to treat
What is tubular carcinoma 2
- Subtype of invasive carcinoma
- Called this, because the cancer are tube like structures
What is colloid (mucinous) ductal carcinoma
- Abnormal cells float in a pool of mucous
What lobular carcinoma 5
- Can become invasive
- Start in lobules (milk producing glands)
- Can spread to other parts of the body
- Harder to detect
- 1 in 5 women will have cancer in both breasts
What is inflammatory breast cancer 7
- Rare
- Invasive
- Blocks lymph vessels
- Causes skin to look inflamed
- Breast will be swollen, purple, red in color, dimpling in color that makes it look like orange peel
- Usually in advanced stage 3 when it is found, because cancer has grown into the skin
- Has the worse prognosis
What is Paget’s disease 4
- Rare
- Skin and nipple areola
- Usually on one side
- Usually found with ductal carcinoma
What is Phyllodes disease 2
- Rare
- Affects connective tissue of the breast
Once we get a biopsy, how can we test those cells
We will look to see if they have estrogen or progesterone receptors, as receptors can help fuel the cancer
What are the 4 different types of hormone receptor statuses
- Estrogen receptor positive (ER positive) (these breast cancers have estrogen receptors)
- Estrogen receptor negative
- Progesterone receptor positive (PR positive)
- Progesterone receptor negative
Besides checking for estrogen and progesterone receptors, what is another receptor we want to check for
HER-2