University Assignment: Breast Cancer Case Study Concept Map

This assignment analyzes a breast cancer case study involving a 50-year-old premenopausal woman presenting with a painless lump in her breast. The student creates a concept map to illustrate the risk factors, which include age, gender, premenopausal stage, and oral contraceptive use. The pathophysiology of breast cancer is discussed, including the role of estrogen and molecular variations in breast tissue. Diagnostic methods such as breast ultrasound, MRI, mammograms, and biopsy are explored, along with the treatment involving lumpectomy and radiation. The assignment demonstrates clinical reasoning skills and the ability to differentiate between normal and abnormal presentations while identifying appropriate diagnostic investigations and treatment modalities. The student references relevant studies to support the analysis.

Running head: BREAST CANCER
BREAST CANCER
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note:

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Concept Map

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The purpose of this article is to discuss the risk factor and pathophysiology of
associated to those risk factors with regards to breast cancer. The risk factor will be deduced
from the provided case study of Catelyn Stark. Catelyn Stark is a 50 year old woman and she
has been admitted to the General Practitioner with a painless lump in the upper left quadrant
of her left breast. From this case scenario, various risk factor can be deduced which might
have played a role in her current conditions. These risk factors are old age and gender,
premenopausal stage, and regular use of contraceptive pill. Therefore, the pathophysiology
related to these risk factors will be discussed briefly in the below mentioned sections and the
pathway of these pathophysiology to the clinical manifestations will be discussed.
The risk factor for breast cancer can be divided in to two parameters such as un-
modifiable risk factors and modifiable risk factors. They risk factors that are identified from
this case study are all un-modifiable risk factors (Maas et al., 2016). Old age and gender is
particularly susceptible for the onset of breast cancer. It has been reported in the studies that
women with more than 50 years old are particularly susceptible for breast cancer and almost
80 per cent cases of breast cancer is happens to this particular demographic. Breast cancer
may happen to the male, however the incidence rate is very low. In this case study, it can be
seen that the patient is a female with 50 years of age. Hence, she is very much in risk for
breast cancer. From the studies it has been evident that menopause does not responsible for
breast cancer but it has been found that the risk of breast cancer increases during the
premenopausal stage. Generally menopause starts at the age of 50 and the patient in this case
study is at premenopausal stage and therefore it is a risk factor for her. The hormone estrogen
plays a significant role in the development of breast cancer in females. It has also been
reported that female who goes through the natural circle of menopause are twice as likely to
develop cancer. It has been generally regarded among the scientist is that estrogen is the
primary driver of breast cancer (Thrane ey al., 2013) and effect of regular use of

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contraceptive pill might play a role in the onset of breast cancer as it is the combination of
estrogen and progesterone.
According to the published study, breast cancer occurs due to the series of molecular
variation in the cellular level in the breast tissues (Bland et al., 2017). This modification
induces the uncontrolled growth in the epithelial tissues of breast which has an immortal
characteristics. Studies have also suggested that the subtypes of different discrete breast
tumour have different clinical presentation with different natural history. The alterations in
the genomic level and molecular level happens in case of breast cancer and commonly, it is
associated with the absence or presence of progesterone receptor or PR, estrogen receptor or
ER, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 or HER2. According to the TCGA or The
Cancer Genome Atlas Network, the four main tumour subtypes are Luminal A, Luminal B,
Basal – Like, and HER2- positive (Bland et al., 2017).
Generally, medical practitioner refers the susceptible patient for breast cancer to a
specialist and tests are conducted on the patients for the diagnosis of breast cancer.
Sometimes this just a precautionary measure and does not imply the presence of actual
disease. The tests which can be used for the diagnosis for breast cancer are mentioned below.
Breast Ultrasound: In this case sonograms of the inside of the breast are collected for the
diagnosis of breast cancer (Jalalian et al., 2013).
Imaging technique like MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): this techniques can also be used
for the detection of the breast cancer (Jalalian et al., 2013).
Diagnostic mammogram: this techniques is used by the medical practitioner for detailed
analysis of the breast in case of the presence of lump in the breast. This technique can be
stated as detailed x-ray. The patient in this scenario has a developed a lump is her upper left
quadrant of left breast and this technique can be used in this scenario (Jalalian et al., 2013).

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Biopsy: In this technique, tissue sample is collected from the breast for the examination under
microscope and there is many type like core biopsy or fine- needle aspiration (Jalalian et al.,
2013).
Lumpectomy can be conducted as a treatment for the breast cancer and it is a type of
surgery to remove cancer from the affected person breast and in this scenario, Catelyn Stark
is recommended for lumpectomy along with radiation as her treatment for breast cancer
(Landercasper et al., 2014).

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References:
Bland, K. I., Copeland, E. M., Klimberg, V. S., & Gradishar, W. J. (2017). The breast:
comprehensive management of benign and malignant diseases. Elsevier Inc.
Jalalian, A., Mashohor, S. B., Mahmud, H. R., Saripan, M. I. B., Ramli, A. R. B., & Karasfi,
B. (2013). Computer-aided detection/diagnosis of breast cancer in mammography and
ultrasound: a review. Clinical imaging, 37(3), 420-426.
Landercasper, J., Whitacre, E., Degnim, A. C., & Al-Hamadani, M. (2014). Reasons for re-
excision after lumpectomy for breast cancer: insight from the American Society of
Breast Surgeons Mastery SM database. Annals of surgical oncology, 21(10), 3185-
3191.
Maas, P., Barrdahl, M., Joshi, A. D., Auer, P. L., Gaudet, M. M., Milne, R. L., ... & Baglietto,
L. (2016). Breast cancer risk from modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors among
white women in the United States. JAMA oncology, 2(10), 1295-1302.
Thrane, S., Lykkesfeldt, A. E., Larsen, M. S., Sorensen, B. S., & Yde, C. W. (2013). Estrogen
receptor α is the major driving factor for growth in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer
and supported by HER/ERK signaling. Breast cancer research and treatment, 139(1),
71-80.