After completing this course you’ll be able to:
| 1. | State the purpose of the book. |
| 2. | State the response to the question, “Is breast cancer a death sentence?” |
| 3. | Define lumpectomy. |
| 4. | State the type of doctor you will be sent for the purpose of diagnosis. |
| 5. | Describe how to find a good cancer specialist. |
| 6. | State a major source of data when evaluating physicians. |
| 7. | List three factors to consider when evaluating a physician. |
| 8. | Define an acinus. |
| 9. | Define cancer. |
| 10. | Describe a malignant tumor. |
| 11. | Define in situ cancer and how it is detected. |
| 12. | Define fibroadenoma. |
| 13. | Discuss the old saying, “If it hurts, it’s not cancer.” |
| 14. | Discuss the age to begin breast self-exams, frequency and timing. |
| 15. | Describe digital mammography. |
| 16. | Discuss why women under thirty-five should not have routine screening mammograms. |
| 17. | Describe how sound waves react to liquid-filled cysts versus a solid mass. |
| 18. | Compare a fine-needle aspiration and core biopsy. |
| 19. | Define an incisional biopsy and an excisional biopsy. |
| 20. | Describe the role of the pathologist. |
| 21. | Describe a permanent section. |
| 22. | Define multifocal and multicentric. |
| 23. | State the length of time treatment should begin after diagnosis. |
| 24. | List three characteristics of a personal advocate |
| 25. | Define mutation and carrier. |
| 26. | Describe the “founder’s effect.” |
| 27. | Compare lumpectomy and mastectomy. |
| 28. | List blood thinners that may interfere with clotting |
| 29. | Discuss the informed consent. |
| 30. | Describe monitoring devices used during surgery. |
| 31. | Describe why lymph nodes are often removed. |
| 32. | Describe sentinel nodes and describe how they are located. |
| 33. | Define the Halstead procedure. |
| 34. | Describe the skin-sparing mastectomy. |
| 35. | List ways to prevent infection after surgery. |
| 36. | Describe treatment for phlebitis. |
| 37. | State when arm exercises should be started. |
| 38. | Describe cancer in pregnancy. |
| 39. | Define electromagnetic radiation and list side effects. |
| 40. | Define metastasis and state the first line of defense. |
| 41. | Describe the role of the radiation oncologist. |
| 42. | Define simulation. |
| 43. | Describe phase one and two of radiation. |
| 44. | List several long-term side effects of radiation. |
| 45. | List the three primary factors that are used to determine prognosis. |
| 46. | Discuss lymph node involvement in the recurrence of cancer. |
| 47. | Define oncogenes. |
| 48. | Discuss the purpose of systemic therapy and its purpose in reducing the risk of recurrence. |
| 49. | Compare chemotherapy and hormone therapy in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. |
| 50. | List qualifications you should look for in a physician to administer systemic . |
| 51. | State the most common route to administer chemotherapy. |
| 52. | List several ways to administer chemotherapy. |
| 53. | Define cytotoxic. |
| 54. | List two very important strategies in using chemotherapy. |
| 55. | Describe the five types of drugs for adjuvant therapy. |
| 56. | Describe the method of reducing hair loss by use of a tourniquet and ice pack. |
| 57. | Discuss the use of Procrit and Neupogen. |
| 58. | List several other side effects while taking chemotherapy. |
| 59. | List side effects of Prednisone, Adriamycin, Cytoxan, and Taxol. |
| 60. | Describe the Group 0 through Group 6 chart related to nodal involvement. |
| 61. | Define triple negative breast cancer. |
| 62. | List several reasons women do not want breast reconstruction. |
| 63. | Describe the trends in reconstruction after a mastectomy. |
| 64. | Define a myocutaneous flap, pedicle flap and free flap. |
| 65. | Describe several types of flaps. |
| 66. | List the major complications of flap reconstruction. |
| 67. | Define regional recurrence and distance recurrence. |
| 68. | Describe how to decide which doctor will be in charge. |
| 69. | List blood tests that are frequently done in follow-up visits. |
| 70. | State the frequency of mammograms and chest x-rays after a mastectomy. |
| 71. | Discuss how a patient should prepare for a bone scan. |
| 72. | List several things you should take with you to the first appointment with a consulting physician. |
| 73. | State where breast cancer cells often establish themselves and produce tumor recurrence. |
| 74. | Define prognosis and remission |
| 75. | Define palliative. |
| 76. | Discuss the role of heredity and the development of breast cancer. |
| 77. | List three methods of reducing fat in the American diet. |
| 78. | State the number one cancer killer of women in the United States. |
| 79. | Describe the relationship of hormones and breast cancer. |
| 80. | State the procedures that should be done prior to taking hormone replacement therapy. |
| 81. | Describe a suppressor gene. |
| 82. | Define epigenetics. |
| 83. | Define apoptosis. |
| 84. | Describe cryosurgery and radiofrequency ablation. |
| 85. | State briefly the four stages of drug testing. |
| 86. | List groups and organizations who offer practical and emotional support. |
| 87. | Discuss the possible role of environmental exposure to cancer producing agents regarding research. |
| 88. | List the most important issues facing our society. |
| 89. | State how we know about breast cancer in the United States, including SEER programs. |
| 90. | Discuss the Mammography Quality Standards Reauthorization Act of 2003. |