Breast CancerKatherine MacGillivray & Melissa Poirier

Objectives

Discuss breast cancer statistics in Canada and Nova Scotia. Overview of the breasts anatomy and physiology. Discuss risk factors for breast cancer and how to minimize those

risks. Discuss differences between benign, non-invasive and invasive

breast disease. Brief overview of breast cancer in men. Discuss types of lymph node involvement. Discuss screening options for breast cancer. Discuss diagnostic tests used for breast cancer. Discuss grading & staging of breast cancer. What are the treatment options for breast cancer? Discuss complications and prognosis of breast cancer. Discuss pre/postoperative nursing diagnosis and interventions .

In Canada, 200 men & 23,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012.

Of that, 50 men & 5100 women will succumb to the disease.

Breast cancer accounts for 26% of new cancer cases in Canadian women.

Approximately 62 Canadian women are diagnosed with breast cancer daily.

Approximately 14 Canadian women die daily of breast cancer.

1 in 9 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 29 will die from it.

Canadian Statistics for 2012

An estimated 740 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

An estimated 160 women will die of breast cancer. 100 out of every 100,000 women of NS will be

diagnosed with breast cancer. Of 100,000 deaths, 20 women will die as the result

of breast cancer. In Nova Scotia, there is limited data available for

breast cancer in men. Men succumb to prostate, colorectal and lung cancers.

Statistics in Nova Scotia for 2012

Breast A & P

Male and female breast develop at the same rate till puberty.

Located between the 2nd & 6th ribs.

Tail of Spence extends into the axilla.

Cooper’s ligaments support the breast to the chest wall.

Each breast contains 12-20 lobes.

Personal Health History Family Health History Certain Genome Changes Radiation Therapy to the Chest Reproductive and Menstruation History Race Being Overweight or Obese after Menopause Lack of Physical Activity Alcohol Use Smoking Age

Risk Factors

Lose excess weight. Be physically active. Limit your intake of alcohol. Breastfeed your baby. Quit smoking. Talk to your doctor about the risks and

benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Reduce exposure to chemicals

Minimizing Your Risk

Atypical Hyperplasia Benign Abnormal proliferation of cells Increased risk of breast cancer

Lobular Carcinoma in Situ Benign Proliferation of cells in the lobules Unable to be diagnosed with a Mammogram Increased risk of breast cancer

Benign Proliferative Breast Disease

Breast profile:A DuctsB LobulesC Dilated section of duct to hold milkD NippleE FatF Pectoralis major muscleG Chest wall/rib cage

EnlargementA Normal lobular cellsB Lobular cancer cellsC Basement membrane

Lobular Carcinoma in Situ

Types of Breast Cancer:Non-Invasive vs. Invasive

Non-Invasive Cancer Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

Invasive Cancer Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma Medullary Carcinoma Mucinous Carcinoma Tubular Ductal Carcinoma Inflammatory Carcinoma Paget’s Disease

Breast profile:A DuctsB LobulesC Dilated section of duct to hold milkD NippleE FatF Pectoralis major muscleG Chest wall/rib cage

EnlargementA Normal duct cellsB Ductal cancer cellsC Basement membrane

D Lumen (center of duct)

Ductal Carcinoma in Situ

Non-invasive cancer is grouped into four subcategories, based on how the cancer cells grow relative to each other, within the center of the milk duct: Solid Cribriform Papillary Comedo

Non-Invasive (In Situ) Cell Growth Subtypes

Solid: There is wall-to wall cell growth

A - Cancer cells B - Basement

membrane

Cribriform: There are holes between groups of cancer cells,

making it look like Swiss cheese.

A - Cancer Cells B - Basement

membrane C - Lumen (center of

duct)

Papillary: The cells grow in fingerlike projections, toward the

inside of the duct.

A - Cancer cells B - Basement

membrane C - Lumen

Comedo: There are areas of “necrosis”, which is debris from dead

cancer cell; this indicates that a tumor is growing so fast that some of the tumor will wither and die because there is not

enough blood to feed all of the cells.

A - Living cancer cellsB - Dying cancer cellsC - Cell debris (necrosis)D - Basement membrane* Referred to as high grade noninvasive cancer- fast growing

Invasive Cancers

Most Common:Infiltrating Ductal CarcinomaInfiltrating Lobular Carcinoma

Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Breast profile: A ducts B lobules C dilated section of duct to

hold milk D nipple E fat F pectoralis major muscle G chest wall/rib cage

Enlargement: A normal duct cells B ductal cancer cells

breaking through the basement membrane

C basement membrane

Invasive Lobular CarcinomaBreast profile:A ductsB lobulesC dilated section of duct to hold milkD nippleE fatF pectoralis major muscleG chest wall/rib cageEnlargement:A normal cellsB lobular cancer cells breaking through the basement membraneC basement membrane

Other Invasive Carcinomas

Medullary Carcinoma Mucinous Carcinoma

Tubular Ductal Carcinoma Inflammatory Carcinoma

Paget’s Disease

Men & Breast Cancer

Less than 1% of breast cancers happen to men in Canada; however the number is increasing

Men over the age of 60 are most often diagnosed with breast cancer

Risk factors, diagnosis, staging and treatment are the same as in women

Risk factors include: mumps, radiation exposure & decreased testosterone levels.

Most common is ductal carcinoma – found in breast ductsSymptoms include a small painless lump, discharge from

nipple, inverted nipple and skin ulcerationAdverse feelings related to “manhood” and sexuality,

having a “women’s disease”

Some breast cancers spread to the lymph nodes under a woman's arm.

Microscopic examination: Lymph node involvement = positive Lymph node clear of cancer = negative

Connection between the number of lymph nodes involved & aggressiveness of cancer's personality.

Knowing how many lymph nodes are involved will help identify appropriate treatment.

Lymph Node Involvement

Three types of lymph node involvement 1. Minimal (or microscopic) lymph node involvement:

- Small number of cancer cells in lymph nodes.2. Significant (or macroscopic) involvement:

-A particular lymph node or group of nodes has become involved with the cancer. Can often

felt by hand or seen without a microscope.3. Extra-capsular extension:

-A breast cancer tumor takes over a whole lymph node and spills beyond the wall of the lymph node into the surrounding fat.

Lymph Nodes

In most cases, the more extensive the lymph node involvement, the more aggressive the cancer. But the extent of disease within a particular lymph node is less important than the total number of lymph nodes affected. The more lymph nodes that are involved, the more threatening the cancer may be.

Doctors use the following categories to describe the overall level of lymph node involvement:

No lymph nodes involved 1–3 nodes involved 4–9 nodes involved 10 or more nodes involved.

Lymph Nodes

Has Cancer Invaded Lymph or

Blood Vessels?

A blood vesselsB lymphatic channels

EnlargementA Normal duct cellB Cancer cellsC Basement membraneD Lymphatic channelE Blood vesselF Breast tissue

Breast Cancer Tissue

Report to Physician ASAP

Screening

1. SBE (self-breast examination) 2. Mammography

Self Breast Examination

Self Breast Exams are an important way to find a breast cancer early.

Not every cancer can be found this way, but it is critical to become familiar with your breasts in order to identify an abnormality

SBE should be done once a month approximately 1wk after your menstrual period

Lumps most women have lumps or lumpy areas in the

breast that may be the result of Fibroadenomas or Cysts

8 out of 10 lumps removed from the breast are benign

Upper/outer area(armpit) - most prominent lumps/bumps

Lower half - sandy/pebbly beach Underneath nipple - collection of large grains Other parts - lumpy bowl of oatmeal

Self Breast Exam cont’d

Studies show that regular breast self-

exams, combined with an annual exam by a doctor, improves the chances of detecting

cancer early.

Look in the mirror, shoulders straight and arms on your hips.

Look for size, shape, and colour of breasts, is there any distortion or swelling present

Changes to report: dimpling, puckering, bulging of the skin, change in nipple position, inverted nipple, redness, soreness, rash or swelling.

Steps to a Self Breast Exam:

Step 1

Raise your arms above your head and look for the same changes.

Step 2

Still standing at the mirror, look for any discharge/fluid coming from your

nipples. Changes to report: any fluid coming

out of 1 or both nipples (unless you are lactating). Could be watery, milky,

yellow or bloody.

Step 3

Lie down on the bed and palpate breasts using pads of a few fingers.

Use a firm smooth touch in a circular motion.

Cover entire breast – collar bone to top of stomach, armpit to sternum.

Make sure to follow a pattern so to cover all area of the breasts.

Step 4

Step 5

Sit or stand and palpate the breast in the same manner as step 4.

Changes to report: lumps, bumps, irregularities

Mammography

Breast imaging technique Identifies non-palpable masses and diagnoses palpable

masses Procedure takes approximately 15 minutes Breast is compressed from top to bottom, and side to

side New and old mammograms are compared Radiation exposure is equivalent to 1 hour in the sun Canadian Cancer Society recommends women to have

a mammogram every 2 years between 50 & 69 years of age.

Women at high risk and under 50 should speak with the HCP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-GmNmPeqHQ

EXPERT QUOTE

"The biggest misconception about mammography is that it picks up every breast cancer. In fact, mammography misses at least

10 percent of breast cancer. So if you feel a lump that doesn't show up on a mammogram,

bring it to your doctor's attention. Get it evaluated."

—Susan Orel, M.D.

Diagnosis for Breast Cancer

Procedures for tissue analysis: Percutaneous Biopsy

Fine-Needle Aspiration Core Needle Biopsy Guided Core Biopsy

Surgical Biopsy Excisional Biopsy Incisional Biopsy

Needle Biopsy

Excisional Biopsy

Grading

Grade Description

1 Low grade – slow growing, less likely to spread

2 Moderate grade

3 High grade – tend to grow quickly, more likely to spread

Staging

Stage Description

0 There are two kinds of stage 0 breast cancer:

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): Abnormal cells are in the lining of a milk duct and have not spread outside the duct.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): Abnormal cells are in the lining of a lobule.

1 Tumour is 2 cm or smaller and the cancer has not spread outside the breast.

2 Tumour is 2 to 5 cm, or cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, or both.

3 Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and may have spread to nearby tissues such as the muscle or skin.

4 Cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.

Surgery Chemotherapy

Radiation Adjunctive Therapy Alternative Therapy

Treatment

Breast Sparing Surgery: Lumpectomy & Partial Mastectomy

Lumpectomy vs. Mastectomy

Modified Radical Mastectomy

Radical Mastectomy

Total Mastectomy

TRAM Flap Reconstruction

Complications

Infection

Lymphedema

Hematoma/Seroma Formation

Allergic Reaction

Lymphedema

Lymphedema is the build-up of fluid in the arm. About 10-20% of women will develop this especially if more than 10 lymph nodes were removed.

Lymphedema

Talk to HCP if experiencing symptoms of lymphedema

Keep skin and nails clean Avoid blocking the flow of fluid through the

body Keep blood from pooling in affected limb Exercise

How to Prevent Lymphedema

Two most important factors when determining the prognosis of breast cancer:

Size of tumour Spread of tumour

Excessive number of copies of certain genes Excessive amounts of the genes protein products

Prognosis

Deficient knowledge Anxiety

Fear Risk for ineffective coping

Decisional conflict

Preoperative Nursing Diagnosis

Provide education and preparation for surgical treatments

Reduce fear and anxiety and improve coping ability

Promote decision-making ability

Preoperative Nursing Interventions

Acute pain Disturbed sensory perception

Disturbed body image Risk for impaired adjustment

Risk for ineffective coping for individual and family

Deficient knowledge Risk for sexual dysfunction

Risk for infection

Postoperative Nursing Diagnoses

Relieving pain and discomfort Managing postoperative sensations Promoting a positive body image

Promote positive adjustment and coping Improving sexual function Monitor for complications

Postoperative Nursing Interventions

Mrs. X, a 59 year old female with a family history of breast cancer recently found a small palpable mass in the upper outer quadrant of her left breast, she also noticed some slight dimpling upon a breast self exam. When she notified her doctor, he preformed a fine needle aspiration biopsy for tissue analysis. Mrs. X’s results showed she had an infiltrating ductal carcinoma, which is an invasive cancer. Mrs. X’s doctor staged her cancer as T1N1M0.

1. How often and when should one perform a breast self exam?

2. If Mrs. X’s breast cancer was genetically inherited, which gene(s)would most likely have a mutation?3. Interpret T1N1M0

Case Study

Mrs. X was scheduled for a modified radical mastectomy (removal of entire breast tissue, nipple – areola complex and axillary lymph nodes). She met with a plastic surgeon to explore the option of breast reconstructive surgery but has decided to wait until after her surgery to decide. Mrs. X’s mother and sister both have undergone the same surgery and she has a very supportive husband. Mrs. X confides in you, the RN, that she is still anxious regarding her upcoming surgery.

1. What are some preoperative nursing interventions you would do?2. What are some postoperative nursing interventions you would do?

Case Study Cont’d

Day, R. A., Paul, P., Williams, B., Smeltzer, S. C., & Bare, B. G. (2010). Textbook of Canadian medical-surgical nursing (2nd ed). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

www.breastcancer.org www.cancer.ca www.cancer.gov

References