Breast cancer
00:00 / 00:00
Videos
Notes
Breast cancer
Reproductive system
Female reproductive system disorders
Amenorrhea
Breast cancer
Fibrocystic breast changes
Intraductal papilloma
Mastitis
Paget disease of the breast
Phyllodes tumor
Intrauterine growth restriction
Oligohydramnios
Polyhydramnios
Potter sequence
Postpartum hemorrhage
Preterm labor
Pelvic inflammatory disease
Urethritis
Ectopic pregnancy
Gestational trophoblastic disease
Miscarriage
Germ cell ovarian tumor
Krukenberg tumor
Ovarian cyst
Ovarian torsion
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Premature ovarian failure
Sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor
Surface epithelial-stromal tumor
Chorioamnionitis
Congenital cytomegalovirus (NORD)
Congenital rubella syndrome
Congenital syphilis
Congenital toxoplasmosis
Neonatal conjunctivitis
Neonatal herpes simplex
Neonatal meningitis
Neonatal sepsis
Cervical incompetence
Gestational diabetes
Gestational hypertension
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Placenta accreta
Placenta previa
Placental abruption
Preeclampsia & eclampsia
Female sexual interest and arousal disorder
Genito-pelvic pain and penetration disorder
Orgasmic dysfunction
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Fetal hydantoin syndrome
Cervical cancer
Choriocarcinoma
Endometrial cancer
Endometrial hyperplasia
Endometriosis
Endometritis
Uterine fibroid
Male and female reproductive system disorders
Delayed puberty
Precocious puberty
5-alpha-reductase deficiency
Androgen insensitivity syndrome
Kallmann syndrome
Klinefelter syndrome
Turner syndrome
Male reproductive system disorders
Bladder exstrophy
Hypospadias and epispadias
Penile cancer
Priapism
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Prostate cancer
Prostatitis
Erectile dysfunction
Male hypoactive sexual desire disorder
Cryptorchidism
Epididymitis
Inguinal hernia
Orchitis
Testicular cancer
Testicular torsion
Varicocele
Reproductive system pathology review
Benign breast conditions: Pathology review
Breast cancer: Pathology review
Cervical cancer: Pathology review
Complications during pregnancy: Pathology review
Congenital TORCH infections: Pathology review
Disorders of sex chromosomes: Pathology review
Disorders of sexual development and sex hormones: Pathology review
HIV and AIDS: Pathology review
Ovarian cysts and tumors: Pathology review
Penile conditions: Pathology review
Prostate disorders and cancer: Pathology review
Sexually transmitted infections: Vaginitis and cervicitis: Pathology review
Sexually transmitted infections: Warts and ulcers: Pathology review
Testicular and scrotal conditions: Pathology review
Testicular tumors: Pathology review
Uterine disorders: Pathology review
Vaginal and vulvar disorders: Pathology review
Assessments
Breast cancer
Flashcards
0 / 32 complete
USMLE® Step 1 questions
0 / 14 complete
High Yield Notes
12 pages
Flashcards
Breast cancer
of complete
Questions
USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE
of complete
External References
First Aid
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
Aromatase inhibitors p. 680
breast cancer p. 727
Axillary lymph nodes
breast cancer and p. 674
BRCA1/BRCA2 genes p. 222
breast cancer and p. 674
Breast cancer
hypercalcemia and p. 221
incidence/mortality of p. 202
key associations p. 731
oncogenes and p. 222
paclitaxel for p. 449
paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration and p. 221
postmenopausal women p. 727
tamoxifen for p. 450
trastuzumab for p. 450
tumor suppressor genes and p. 222
Breast tumors (malignant) p. 674-675
aromatase inhibitors for p. 680
breastfeeding and p. 652
hormonal contraception contraindication p. 681
Estrogen p. 654, 680
benign breast tumors p. 673
breast cancer p. 674
Inflammatory breast carcinoma p. 674
Lymph drainage
malignant breast tumors p. 674
Obesity
breast cancer risks p. 674
Tamoxifen p. 450, 680
for breast cancer p. 727
Transcript
Breast cancer, or breast carcinoma, is an uncontrolled growth of epithelial cells within the breast. It’s the second most common cancer in women, but can also, on rare occasion, affect men as well.
Breast cancer is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women after lung cancer. This is largely due to the fact that oftentimes breast cancers don’t cause any pain or discomfort until they’ve spread to nearby tissues.
The breasts are milk-producing glands that sit on the chest wall, on either side of the breast-bone. They lie on top of the ribs and the pectoral muscles, and they’re divided into three main parts.
The glandular tissue that makes the milk, is made up of 15 to 20 lobules. Inside each of these lie a bunch of grape-like structures called the alveoli, which are modified sweat glands surrounded by a basement membrane made largely of collagen.
Zooming in on the alveoli, there’s a layer of alveolar cells that secrete breast milk into the lumen which is the space in the center of the gland.
Wrapping around the alveolus are special myoepithelial cells that squeeze down and push the milk out of the lumen of the alveolus, down the lactiferous ducts, and out one of the pores on the nipple.
Now, surrounding the glandular tissue is the stroma, which contains adipose or fat tissue, and this makes up the majority of the breast.
Suspensory ligaments called Cooperʼs ligaments, run through the stroma and help keep it in place. These ligaments attach to the inner surface of the breast skin on one end and the pectoralis muscles on the other.
Just below the skin over the breast, there’s a network of tiny lymphatic vessels that drain the lymph, which is a fluid containing cellular waste products and white blood cells. These lymphatic vessels mainly drain into a group of lymph nodes in the axilla, or the armpit.
Sources
- "Robbins Basic Pathology" Elsevier (2017)
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Twentieth Edition (Vol.1 & Vol.2)" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
- "Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine 8E" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
- "CURRENT Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2019)
- "Mammographic Density and the Risk and Detection of Breast Cancer" New England Journal of Medicine (2007)
- "Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: an analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy" The Lancet (2012)
For Institutions
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier, its licensors, and contributors. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
Cookies are used by this site.
USMLE® is a joint program of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). COMLEX-USA® is a registered trademark of The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, Inc. NCLEX-RN® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are endorsed by nor affiliated with Osmosis or this website.
