Breast Cancer Understanding the disease Treatment options Side effects of treatment
Jan 28, 2015
Breast Cancer
Understanding the disease Treatment options Side effects of treatment
1. Pectoralis Muscle, 2. Fatty Breast Tissue, 3. Breast Cancer, 4. Breast Glands (lobules), 5. Milk Ducts
Basic Breast Anatomy
Mammogram
Cancer, deep in the right breast
MRI
Cancer, deep in the right breast
Cancers are named after the cell that goes bad, so ductal or lobular carcinoma
There is a risk of spread to the near by lymph nodes (level I or II)
Location of the lymph nodes
Internal mammarysupraclavicular
axillary
Lymph Nodes
Sentinel Node Technique and Biopsy
Sentinel Node
ductal cells
ductal carcinoma In situ (DCIS)
Invasive ductal carcinoma
Earliest form of cancer is often DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) then it progresses to invasive ductal carcinoma
Stage: How far has the cancer spread based on three things referred to as T,N,M.
T (tumor size) T1 = 2cm, T2 = 2-5 cm T3 = larger, T4 = more advanced
N (node involvement) N0 = no nodes, N1 =1-3 involved, N2= 4-9. N3= 10
M (metastases) any spread to bone, liver, brain
Stage 0 = Tis = ductal carcinoma in situStage I = T1N0; IIA = T1N1 or T2N0; IIB = T2N1 or T3N0Stage IIIA = T3 or N2; Stage IIIB = T4; Stage IIIC = N3, Stage IV = metastases
Histology – appearance of the cells under the microscope. Most cancers arise from milk duct cells and are called invasive ductal carcinoma. (The earliest form, before any invasion is called ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS.) Other types include lobular and medullary and very favorable types like tubular or mucinous.
Grade – how mutated the cells have become. The closer the cells resemble normal breast cells, the less serious (slower growing, less likely to spread.)
Grade 1 or well differentiated – slow growing, most favorable
Grade 2 or moderately differentiated – most common, average
Grade 3 or poorly differentiated – fast growing, more serious
Hormone Receptors – normal breast cells are sensitive to hormones and have positive receptors for estrogen (ER+) or progesterone (PR+). If the hormone receptors are present (called positive) the cancer is less serious and more likely to respond to a hormone therapy drug like tamoxifen (Nolvadex), Arimidex (anastrazole) , Femara (letrozole) or Aromasin (exemestine).
DNA Studies: the more mutated the cells, the more serious. If there is an abnormal number of chromosomes (aneuploid), rapidly dividing numbers of cells (high S-phase) or abnormal genes (HER-2/Neu), this may effect the choice of chemotherapy drugs used (like Adriamycin, Taxol or Herceptin.)
CT scan is obtained at the time of simulation
CT images are then imported into the treatment planning computer
In the simulation process the CT images are used to create a computer plan
Typical technique for external beam
Radiation beam skims over the surface of the chest wall, ribs and luring
Internal doses of radiation
surface doses of radiation
Computer generated breast radiation
Tumor site in breast
lung
lung
Spinal cord
heart
breast
Computer generated anatomy images that will identify all the important structures to be sure the radiation covers the area of breast cancer and limits the dose to other areas
Viewed from the side, the radiation stops before hitting the lung
Radiation field to left breast
First the whole breast is treated for 25 to 30 treatments
Then additional radiation is gievm to the incision site, called boost field radiation
Sometimes along with radiation to the breast, the high nodes in the neck (supraclavicular nodes) may be treated
In the treatment the lasers are used to line up the beam, then rotated to the correct angle and the patient receives the radiation treatment
Balloon therapy for breast cancer
Twice a day for 5 days
Partial Breast Irradiation
Utilizing a balloon inside the lumpectomy cavity and completing the radiation in 5 days
Advantages of multi-dwell catheter compared to single dwell
CT Scan of woman with breast balloon
CAT Scan picture with balloon in right breast
Distance of the balloon surface from the skin should be greater than 8mm
the balloon is too close to the skin
Side Effects of Breast Radiation
Generally the side effects of breast radiation do not become noticeable until the woman has received about 10 treatments, and then become somewhat more noticeable through the rest of the treatment. The most common side effects:
•skin irritation - the skin that is radiated gets red, itchy and may blister (like a sun burn)
•breast or chest wall tenderness or mild pain
•tiredness or fatigue (some women feel a little light-headed)
•are swelling or edema (usually slight, see section below about avoiding lymphedema)
Radiation Prescription for #
diagnosis: Stage # infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast
number of radiation treatments: #