c l i n i c a l f o l i o s : n a r r a t i v e





A D V E R T I S E M E N T

 

Breast Cancer: Staging: 4

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

   
 

After LCIS has been diagnosed by excisional biopsy, treatment may consist of close surveillance alone. Although there is a significantly increased risk of developing a subsequent infiltrating cancer in either breast, the majority of women (75%) will not. The other option is prophylactic bilateral total mastectomy. A woman's anxiety over the risk is often the deciding factor as to which course is chosen. Tamoxifen, which has been shown to greatly reduce (40%) the risk of recurrent cancer, may add an additional safety margin in LCIS. If mastectomy is chosen, reconstruction with a saline-filled implant or with tissue flaps can be done.     

Notes:

Link to this frame from your Personal Thumbnails page? Yes No


 

Breast Cancer: Staging: 5

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

   
 

Stage I cancer is an invasive (usually ductal) cancer less than 2 cm in size with no nodal or distant spread, i.e. localized to the breast. Clinical stage I is based on the estimated size of the primary tumor and the absence of suspicious palpable axillary lymph nodes. If the pathologic examination confirms the size of the tumor and absence of nodal metastasis, it remains a pathologic stage I. Stage I disease is also highly curable.      

Notes:

Link to this frame from your Personal Thumbnails page? Yes No


 

Breast Cancer: Staging: 6

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

   
 

The treatment of stage I disease is either breast-conserving therapy or modified radical mastectomy. Breast conserving therapy includes removal of the tumor with a safe margin of normal tissue around it (lumpectomy, segmentectomy or quadrantectomy), axillary samplingand adjuvant radiotherapy after the surgical wound has healed (2-3 weeks). Modified radical mastectomy eliminates the need for radiation and the small percent of associated complications, but leaves the patient with the choice of the cosmetic deformity or reconstruction.  The long term cancer treatment

Tamoxifen is now being added to many treatment regimens if the tumor  is ER/PR positive (see breast cancer overview) because of its potential to reduce recurrence. There is also now evidence that adjuvant chemotherapy may additionally be beneficial if the tumor is greater than 1.5 cm in size, even if the axillary sampling confirms that the disease is stage I. If nodal metastasis is found on axillary sampling, it changes the stage from a clinical stage I to a pathological stage II. 

Notes:

Link to this frame from your Personal Thumbnails page? Yes No

 

Click the "Update" button to save your Notes and Personal Thumbnails.

 

Thumbnails

This page was last modified on 7/12/1999.