I am so excited about this Case Study because I feel it will be useful to so many of you! Welcome to a new Case Study in which the patient, a 45-yr-old, white, premenopausal woman, presents for her annual exam with a small lump in her breast that has grown in size over the last few weeks.
Updated:
Reasons for breast lumps are essentially any hormonal changes like menopause, pregnancy, contraception, Breast feeding or periods.
Non cancerous lumps could be cysts, lipoma or fibrocystic changes
signs of cancer I picked up on, other than the lump, are family hx, the pt age and early onset of mensuration. I’m sure there are more.
for the examination:
- as for the breast themselves, no pain or nipple changes but is there a rash? Or any change to size/shape?
- I would do a pregnancy testing, unlikely but to rule it out
- menopause is more likely, regular menses? Hot flashes? Wt gain? Mood changes?
- bloods, fbc, crp, fsh, tsh, u+e’s, hb1ac, lipids
- mammogram.
Considering the pt age and family hx alone, I would be concerned about breast ca. But I feel like for a case study this is to obvious.
How about the physical exam? Is the lump soft and pliable, can it be moved around? A mammogram will most certainly be ordered either way, but if the lump is hard and immovable it may be a more immediate appointment or they could possibly do an ultrasound right there depending on the resources available at the office. Any recent illness or allergic reactions? Blood work may be needed as well assuming standard tests prior to test for change in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, but with family history I guess that could be an earlier option.
Thank you so much for your questions and comments! Here is the first update:
Finding a lump in your breast can be frightening — but although breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women, most breast lumps are not cancer. In fact, more than 80 percent of them end up being benign
Breast lumps can be caused by:
Risk Factors
Most breast cancers are found in women 50 years or older. Most of us have some risk factors, but most women don’t get breast cancer. Risk factors include getting older, early menstruation and menopause after age 55
Other risk factors for breast cancer:
Review of Systems: only abnormal values presented
Lymph nodes/neck: one movable, firm, non-tender axillary lymph node of approximately 1.5 cm palpated under left arm
Breast exam:
Vital signs:
Laboratory Test Results:
Bilateral mammogram: There were three 1.0-1.5 cm masses distributed diffusely throughout the right breast and four 0.5-1,0 cm masses in the left breast. There also was a 2.1 cm x 3.0 cm x 3.1 cm mass with irregular borders within the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. Associated with the suspicious lesion was diffuse skin thickening and an enlarged axillary lymph node of approximately 1.5 cm. Seven Y-shaped microcalcifications extending to the nipple were seen in the left breast. There is some evidence of extension of the abnormal mass into the pectoral muscle.
Can you identify at least six clinical manifestations that might support a diagnosis of breast cancer?
Diagnosis:
Core-needle biopsy of large left breast mass: pathology consistent with invasive ductal carcinoma (infiltrating breast carcinoma), tubules observed in 85% of sample, 3-5 cell divisions in high-power observation with mild pleomorphism, tumor positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors.
Ultrasound of left breast and axilla: four cystic lesions in the left breast, solid-appearing, non-cystic mass consistent with cancer in upper outer quadrant, ill-defined mass with abnormal vascularity, the mass measures the same as with the mammogram (2,1x3x3.1 cm), there is some suggestion of skin thickening and mild tissue edema.
Ultrasound of liver: clear
Bone scan: no definitive evidence of bone metastasis, positive for mild degenerative changes consistent with degenerative joint disease.
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), also known as infiltrating ductal carcinoma, is cancer that began growing in a milk duct and has invaded the fibrous or fatty tissue of the breast outside of the duct. IDC is the most common form of breast cancer, representing 80 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses.
As with any breast cancer, there may be no signs or symptoms
Make an appointment to have a breast lump evaluated if:
Now that you know the patient has IDC – what’s next?
Clinical course: The oncologist met with the patient and together they decided on breast conservation therapy/lumpectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy, radiation and chemotherapy. The nodes were negative and surgical margins were clear. After radiation treatment, the patient was placed on tamoxifen. She will have follow-up appointments every 3-4 months for the first two years and then every 6 months for the next three years, then annually.
For more information on options for treating IDC, check out https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/idc/treatment
Treatments for invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and targeted therapy.
Surgery is used to treat IDC not only to remove the breast tumor itself, but also to confirm whether or not cancer is in the lymph nodes. Surgery is considered a local treatment because it treats just the tumor and surrounding area. A lumpectomy removes only the tumor (the “lump”) and some of the normal tissue that surrounds it.
In a Sentinel lymph node biopsy, the surgeon looks for the very first lymph node — the “sentinel node” — that filters fluid draining away from the area of the breast that contains the cancer. If cancer cells are breaking away from the tumor and traveling away from your breast through the lymph system, the sentinel lymph node is more likely than other lymph nodes to contain cancer. The surgeon uses a special radioactive substance or dye to identify that first node and the couple of nodes where it drains. These nodes are then removed and sent for examination by a pathologist. If the lymph nodes are cancer-free, no further surgery is necessary. If cancer is found, then more lymph nodes in the armpit need to be removed, either now or at a later date.
Radiation therapy is most often recommended after surgeries that conserve healthy breast tissue, such as lumpectomy and partial mastectomy.
If the IDC is larger than 1 centimeter in diameter and/or has spread to the lymph nodes, chemotherapy is usually recommended or, at the very least, seriously considered. When chemotherapy is given after surgery, it is called “adjuvant therapy.” In cases where the tumor is large, or breast cancer cells have traveled to many lymph nodes or other parts of the body, chemotherapy may be given before surgery to shrink the cancer. This approach is called “neoadjuvant therapy.” In either case, chemotherapy will be given in cycles, usually with a day (or days) of treatment followed by a period of “off” days. The exact schedule can vary depending on the medication or medications used. An entire course of chemotherapy usually takes about 3 to 6 months.
Hormonal therapy for IDC is recommended if the cancer tested positive for hormone receptors, Hormonal therapy, also called anti-estrogen therapy or endocrine therapy, works by lowering the amount of estrogen in the body or blocking the estrogen from signaling breast cancer cells to grow. For small tumors, it’s common for hormonal therapy (adjuvant treatment) to be given after other treatments. Tamoxifen acts like estrogen and attaches to the receptors on the breast cancer cells, taking the place of real estrogen. As a result, the cells don’t receive the signal to grow. Tamoxifen can be used to treat both pre- and postmenopausal women. Other examples of SERMs are Evista (chemical name: raloxifene) and Fareston (chemical name: toremifene).
References
Breast lumps https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/breast-lumps/basics/causes/sym-20050619
Invasive ductal carcinoma https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/breast_center/breast_cancers_other_conditions/invasive_ductal_carcinoma.html
Risk factors for Breast Cancer at a Young Age https://www.CDC.gov/cancer/breast/young_women/bringyourbrave/breast_cancer_young_women/risk_factors.htm?s_cid=byb_sem_013
Treatment for IDC https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/types/idc/treatment
THANK YOU, @SafetyNurse1968. Great Case Study!!
Here are the responses from members who came to the Admin Help Desk for the 10th Case Study Investigation (CSI).
Questions
What are the possible reasons for this lump?
The lump can be benign or cancerous.
It could be breast cancer, breast cyst or a Fibroadenoma
Is it just another cyst?
Could be or not. A cyst is fluid filled painless and movable. Need further tests to r/o cancer.
How many reasons for breast lumps can you come up with off the top of your head?
Infection/ Abcess
Trauma
Fibroadenoma
Sebaceous cyst
Fibrocystic breast
Fat necrosis and lipoma
Intraductal papilomas
How many risk factors for breast cancer can you spot?
Age
Hereditary predisposition
Family history of breast cancer mother and grand mother
Infrequent breast exams and mammograms
What labs do you want?
BRCA 1 & 2, Baseline labs CBC, BMP,PT/PTT,TYPE AND SCREEN, LFT
What other diagnostic tests should we run?
Breast ultrasound,digital mammogram,manual physical exam and breast exam by a provider, MRI if required
Based on the exam, tests and results a clearer picture will emerge on if this is cancer or not.
Clinical signs: 1.) lump is firm 2.) irregular 3.) surrounding skin tissue hardening 4.) lump extends to muscle 5.) Platelets on the higher side??? Considered WBC being in upper normal but probably not that so I don't have a 6th one ?
Presentation
A 45-yr-old, white, premenopausal woman presents for her annual exam. About 5 weeks ago, she noticed a small, painless lump in the upper outer quadrant of her left breast. "I didn't think much about it because I've had so many lumps – they always pop up when I get my period.” She states that usually the lumps become palpable and bother her about 10 days before her menses, but then they go away. Right now, she is about 4 days from her expected date of menstruation. She is a nonsmoker, nondrinker and denies recreational drug use. She only takes PRN medications occasionally. She has a supportive partner and two children ages 13 and 17.
Chief Complaint
"My breasts have always been cystic, but I found a new lump in my left breast that has me worried.”
History of Present Illness
She has no history of dysmenorrhea, but the lump hasn't gone away and seems to have grown in size. She denies tenderness, pain, nipple discharge and skin changes in her breasts and no masses in the axillary region of her left arm are found. She states that she practices breast self-exams, "but not as often as I should.” She has never had a mammogram. Several years ago, she had a breast biopsy that was consistent with fibrocystic changes. Her only Pap smear was done two years ago, and the result was normal.
Past Medical History
Her medical history is unremarkable except for a broken arm in grade school. Menarche was at age 11. Her first pregnancy was at age 27 and her second at age 32 – both pregnancies were full term and deliveries were lady partsl with no complications.
Family History
Paternal grandmother diagnosed with breast cancer before menopause at age 48. Mother died of breast cancer at age 75, though the cancer was diagnosed when she was 45. She had two periods of long-term remission, but it recurred again 16 years ago. Her father is 88 and has HTN, history of stroke, type 2 DM and Alzheimer's disease. He lives in a nursing home.
Social History
Drinks 6-8 cups of coffee weekly, exercises 3x weekly, has a degree in communications from a local college, but she now works as a personal life coach.
Allergies
Latex and adhesive tape cause a rash.
Questions
What are the possible reasons for this lump? Is it just another cyst? How many reasons for breast lumps can you come up with off the top of your head? How many risk factors for breast cancer can you spot? What labs do you want? What other diagnostic tests should we run?
DISCLAIMER: These case studies are presented for learning purposes only and with full understanding that it is outside the scope of practice for a nurse to make a medical diagnosis. When participating, assume that a licensed healthcare provider is making the actual diagnosis, ordering all the tests and interpreting the results. You are looking at the case retrospectively to learn from the data presented – the idea is to increase your knowledge so you can sharpen your assessment and teaching skills.
About SafetyNurse1968, BSN, MSN, PhD
Dr. Kristi Miller, aka Safety Nurse is an Assistant Professor of nursing at USC-Upstate and a Certified Professional in Patient Safety. She is obsessed with patient safety. Please read her blog, Safety Rules! on allnurses.com.
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