Scenario
A routine mammogram detected a large malignant tumor in the right breast of 42-year-old Mrs. H., who had a family history of breast cancer. No metastases were found initially. She underwent a mastectomy with removal of axillary and mediastinal lymph nodes, several of which contained cancer. Classified as stage III, she was advised to receive chemotherapy and radiation, followed by ovary removal to lower estrogen levels.
Alternative Diagnostic Tests for Breast Cancer
In the case under analysis, a female patient is diagnosed with stage III cancer because of a malignant tumor being confirmed with the help of a biopsy. Cancer is a dangerous disease, and scientists and healthcare providers work hard to introduce more effective means to diagnose patients. In addition to the biopsy, other diagnostic tests could have been used in this patient’s case. For example, a mammograph is a gold standard in revealing benign or malignant abnormalities in the human body. It is characterized by a low-dose ionizing X-ray showing a detailed breast image with 90% of sensitivity (Bhushan et al., 2021).
Ultrasound also plays an important role in cancer detection: sound waves create an image of breast tissues with 80% sensitivity (Bhushan et al., 2021). In fact, the American Cancer Society recommends mammography once every two years for women older than 40 years to predict complications. Blood chemistry tests are necessary to identify if there are any problems with other organs, including the kidneys and liver.
Rationale for Lymph Node Removal and Adjuvant Therapy
The reasons for removing the axillary lymph nodes and continuing chemotherapy and radiation are closely related to metastasis detection. At the moment, the patient does not have metastases, but she has a serious family history of cancer. Thus, the lymph nodes under the arm are the first place cancer cells can reach and develop. Although it is possible to observe changes in this area with the help of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, its progress is not always easy to predict (Bhushan et al., 2021).
Therefore, the decision to remove the lymph node is made at the initial stage of treatment. Standard chemotherapy and radiation are effective in cancer treatment because these procedures help to kill cancer cells and predict their spread to other tissues. Most patients choose these two types of treatment together to use anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapy) and high-energy rays (radiotherapy) for cell destruction.
Reference
Bhushan, A., Gonsalves, A., & Menon, J. U. (2021). Current state of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and theranostics. Pharmaceutics, 13(5). Web.