Breast CA

Question 1

majority of breast CA found where

Answer 1

upper outer quadrant (closest to armpit)

Question 2

Tail of Spence

Answer 2

extension of breast tissue that extends into axilla

Question 3

etiology/risk factors

Answer 3

• mutation of oncogenes (genes that regulate self-proliferation)
• family Hx of breast CA
• mutated BRCA1 gene on Chr 17
• mutated BRCA2 gene on Chr13
• inc age
• hormonal factors

Question 4

mutation of BRCA1 and 2 gene results in what

Answer 4

growth suppression limited & malignant cells proliferate rapidly

Question 5

why does inc age inc risk of breast CA

Answer 5

d/t inc exposure of carcinogens

Question 6

what hormonal factors inc risk of breast CA

Answer 6

• receiving HRT after menopause
• entering menopause late
• early menarche
• nulliparity

Question 7

HRT

Answer 7

hormone replacement therapy of estrogen & progestin (a form of progesterone)

Question 8

why does entering menopause late inc risk of breast CA

Answer 8

Breasts exposed to estrogen for longer period of time –> inc risk (estrogen = breast CA risk factor)

Question 9

why does early menarche inc risk of breast CA

Answer 9

Extended estrogen exposure = inc risk

Question 10

why does nulliparity inc risk of breast CA

Answer 10

d/t no break in menstrual cycle

Question 11

ductal carcinoma in situ characteristics

Answer 11

• intraductal (non-invasive)

- stage 0 = tumor is in early stages (“pre-cancerous”)

Question 12

infiltrating ductal carcinoma

Answer 12

• formed on its own or from ductal carcinoma in situ
• ductal origin
• solid, irregular mass
• infiltrating (invasive)

Question 13

ductal origin

Answer 13

tumor arises from duct system and invades surrounding tissues

Question 14

proximal mets of infiltrating ductal carcinoma to where

Answer 14

axillary lymph nodes

Question 15

distal mets of infiltrating ductal carcinoma to where

Answer 15

liver, bone, brain

Question 16

mnfts

Answer 16

• palpable, irregular mass (no upon palpation)

- retracted nipples, discharge, & edema

Question 17

Dx

Answer 17

• mammography
• biopsy
• tumor markers
• detected by patient

Question 18

what does biopsy measure

Answer 18

• measure estrogen & progestorone receptors

- SLN assessment (sentinel lymph nodes)

Question 19

tumor marker CEA

Answer 19

carcinoembryonic antigen test that measures amount of protein in blood to determine how widespread CA is (more CA cells = inc CEA)

Question 20

Tx

Answer 20

• radiation, chemo
• hormone therapy
• Sx

Question 21

hormone therapy drugs

Answer 21

• Tamoxifen

- Es inhibitors

Question 22

Tamoxifen

Answer 22

Synthetic non-steroidal anti-estrogen

Question 23

Es inhibitors Fx

Answer 23

Block synthesis of estrogen

Question 24

what Sx for breast CA

Answer 24

• lumpectomy
• quandrantectomy
• mastectomy

Question 25

lumpectomy

Answer 25

Remove mass & some surrounding tissue to get analyzed

Question 26

quadrantectomy

Answer 26

Remove entire quadrant where lump is

Question 27

mastectomy

Answer 27

Remove entire breast (uncommon)

Question 28

Radical mastectomy

Answer 28

remove some muscle tissue in chest wall & sometimes other breast