types of breast cancer

Question 1

Two main types of breast cancer

Answer 1

1. Non invasive breast cancer
   - Ductal carcinoma in situ
2. Invasive breast cancer
   - Ductal invasive breast cancer
   - inflammatory breast cancer

Question 2

What is ‘Ductal carcinoma in situ’?

Answer 2

1. pre invasive cancer - malignant cells do not invade beyond the duct into the breast tisue
2. picked up due to abnormal calcification of the breast
3. potential of becoming invasive in the future

Question 3

Management of Ductal carcinoma in situ

Answer 3

1. Wide local excision or mastectomy depending on size of the tumor
2. no axillary surgery/chemotherapy/radiotherapy
3. high grade DCIS may require post operative breast radiotherapy

Question 4

How does DCIS present?

Answer 4

usually assymptomatic

• detected by mammography showing microcalcification

Question 5

What is Paget’s disease?

Answer 5

1. patch of eczema around the nipple

2. indicative of DCIS

Question 6

What is inflammatory breast cancer?

Answer 6

1. highly malignant carcinoma causes lymphatic invasion.

2. presents as red, hot, swollen breast

Question 7

Ix of Paget’s disease

Answer 7

1. mammogram

2. nipple biopsy performed