Clinical meaning
Breast Cancer Screening involves malignant transformation through accumulation of genetic mutations (oncogene activation, tumor suppressor loss) driving uncontrolled proliferation. The hallmarks of cancer include sustained proliferative signaling, evading growth suppressors, resisting cell death, enabling replicative immortality, inducing angiogenesis, and activating invasion/metastasis. TNM staging guides prognosis and treatment decisions.
Diagnosis & workup
Diagnostics & workup: - Tissue biopsy with histopathological examination (gold standard) - CT chest/abdomen/pelvis for staging - PET-CT for metabolic activity and metastatic survey - Tumor markers (CEA, PSA, CA-125, AFP, LDH) - Molecular profiling and genomic testing (BRCA, MSI, PD-L1, TMB) - CBC, CMP, LDH for baseline and tumor burden - Age-appropriate cancer screening per USPSTF/ACS guidelines
Risk factors: - Age (strongest risk factor for most cancers) - Tobacco use (dose-dependent carcinogenic exposure) - Family history and inherited cancer syndromes (BRCA, Lynch) - Chronic inflammation or infection (H. pylori, HBV/HCV, HPV) - Environmental carcinogen exposure (asbestos, radiation, benzene) - Immunosuppression (transplant, HIV) - Obesity (associated with 13 cancer types)