Breast Pain Does Not Necessarily Indicate Breast Cancer
Though women presenting with breast pain are often sent by their clinicians for different types of breast cancer testing — typically undergoing mammography, an ultrasound, and a physical exam — a new study reveals that breast pain is not necessarily an indicator of cancer.
Women presenting with breast pain are often sent by their clinicians for different types of breast cancer testing — typically undergoing mammography, an ultrasound, and a physical exam — despite there being a lack of association between the pain and cancer.
Researchers from Arizona and California decided to examine the benefit of this testing and if the workup is cost effective.
They reviewed medical records of 7202 consecutive patients, who were seen at least 1 time, at the Breast Clinic at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix from June 1, 2006 to February 28, 2017.
About 15% of patients (1017 of 7202) presented with a complaint of breast pain, according to the study that was presented at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Some patients (702) were referred to the breast clinic for a breast “mass,” but were found to have only breast pain. Of the 1719 patients with breast pain, 15 (<1%) were found to have breast cancer. None of the patients found to have cancer were at increased risk per Gail Model risk estimates.
Most patients underwent evaluation of their breast pain: 85% breast imaging (mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, or CT scans), 32% biopsy, and 68% blood tests.
Although breast pain is a common complaint, workup beyond physical examination does not appear to be cost effective for patients under age 40 for whom it is not recommended to undergo screening, concluded the researchers. In patients age 40 and older, mammography should be performed if the patient has not been participating in routine screening. Diagnostic imaging in the absence of findings on screening and laboratory tests do not appear beneficial in patients with breast pain.
Workflow, Educational Tools Improve Use of Silicone Film to Prevent Radiation Dermatitis
April 25th 2024Tools to educate oncology nurses and patients on the use of Mepitel film to prevent radiation dermatitis has improved the workflow around its introduction to patients with breast cancer, as well as its application and maintenance.
Olaparib Plus Chemo May Not Improve Outcomes vs Chemo Alone in BRCA Wild-Type TNBC
April 23rd 2024Patients with BRCA wild-type triple-negative breast cancer treated with olaparib on a gap schedule with chemotherapy did not experience improved responses compared with chemotherapy alone in the neoadjuvant setting.
Nurse Practitioners Weigh in on Data From the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
January 16th 2023Loyda Braithwaite, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC, AOCNP; and Jamie Carroll, APRN, CNP, MSN, highlight presentations from the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium that will influence oncology nursing practice.
