CPD module: breast cancer

After completing this module, you should be more aware of:

• the number of people affected by breast cancer and the lifetime risk
• breast anatomy and cell types where breast cancer can occur
• non-invasive tumour types
• invasive breast cancer types
• special type breast cancers
• how receptors for oestrogen (ER), progesterone and human epidermal growth factor (HER2) can proliferate on cancer cells and the impact on tumour growth
• how receptor overexpression (ER+, HER2+) can be targeted
• triple negative cancer types
• certain gene mutation types (BRCA1, BRCA2)
• the role of oestrogen in breast cancer and ways it can be suppressed
• drug therapies including chemotherapy, biological/targeted therapies, hormonal therapy
• some common side effects of drug therapies.