types of cancer Flashcards
(29 cards)
What are the risk factors for breast cancer?
Increased age, female, family history, radiation exposure, benign fibrotic change, oestrogen exposure (COCs/HRT),
What gene causes most genetic cases of breast cancer?
BRCA1 (and BRCA2)
Which part of the breast is most likely to develop breast cancer, and why?
The upper outer quadrant - this part has the most amount of breast tissue
What are some of the gross breast changes that occur with cancer?
Palpable mass, skin puckering/tethering, nipple inversion, peau d’orange oedema, ulceration
What is the most common benign breast tumor?
Fibroadenoma
What is the common presentation of breast fibroadenoma?
Presents with a freely movable, rubbery spherical mass
What are the findings on mammogram of Ductal Carcinoma in situ?
Microcalcifications
What is Paget’s disease?
When breast ductal cell carcinoma in situ migrates to the nupple, disrupting the epithelium and causing inflammation and a scaly crust
What is the most common type of breast cancer?
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
What is the common presentation of invasive ductal carcinoma?
Presents with a hard, craggy lump or a speculated lesion on mammography
What is the ‘triple assessment’ of breast cancer?
Clinical exam, breast imaging, biopsy
What receptors are tested for in breast cancer?
oestrogen, progesterone, HER-2 receptors
Why do breast cancers that are oestrogen or progesterone receptor positive have a better prognosis?
They can be treated with hormonal treatments that target these receptors
What is the significance of HER-2 positive breast cancer?
Presence of HER-2 suggests the cancer is more aggressive, but there is a targeted treatment available - herceptin - which improves prognosis
What are the high risk strains of HPV?
HPV16, HPV18 - increase risk of cervical cancer
What are the low risk strains of HPV?
HPV6, HPV11 - cause skin and genital warts
Which part of the cervix does HPV usually infect, and therefore where most cervical cancers arise?
The transformation zone - where there are cells undergoing differentiation
What is the precursor lesion for HPV-related carcinoma?
CIN - cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1-CIN3)
What is LSIL and HSIL?
Low-grade / High-grade intraepithelial lesion
What are the 2 most common types of uterine smooth muscle tumor?
Leiomyoma/fibroids (benign), leiomyosarcoma (cancer)
Which part of the prostate is affected by benign prostatic hypertrophy?
The transitional zone, at the centre of the prostate
What conditions can cause a raised PSA level?
benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostatitis, prostate cancer - so not specific enough for cancer diagnosis
What are the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy?
Urinary retention, cystitis, frequency, hesitancy, dysuria, terminal dribbling, nocturia
What is the pathophysiology of benign prostatic hypertrophy?
With increasing age, there is a build up of epithelial and stromal tissues which enlarges the transitional zone of the prostate. An increased number of adrenergic receptors also occurs, leading to increased smooth muscle contraction which helps to compress the urethra
