Deck 21: Epidemiology of Breast Cancer

Question 1

Breast cancer was diagnosed in 2,088,849 women in 2018 and caused 626,679 deaths.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among women (only lung cancer causes more deaths).

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Survival of Stage I breast cancer (carcinoma in situ) approaches 100% in the US population.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The classical risk factors for breast cancer include familial and genetic predisposition, early menses, delayed reproductive history, nulliparity, absence of lactation, late menopause, and the natural process of aging.

Question 5

Mammography has had little impact on breast cancer survival among cases diagnosed prior to menopause.

Question 6

Mammography has had little impact on breast cancer survival among cases diagnosed after menopause.

Question 7

Nearly 75% of breast cancers are detected in postmenopausal women.

Question 8

Hallmarks of familial breast cancer include early onset, bilateral disease, and clustering of other forms of cancer among female relatives.

Question 9

Estrogen replacement therapy increases the risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer.

Question 10

Genetic factors are responsible for the majority of breast cancer cases.

Question 11

Breast cancer mortality has increased significantly during the past 50 years in all of the following countries except:

A) Japan.
B) India.
C) China.
D) France.

Question 12

Tumor suppressor genes linked to breast cancer pathogenesis include all of the following except:

A) BRCA-1.
B) BRCA-2.
C) PTEN.
D) RET.

Question 13

What is the karyotype of males with Klinefelter's syndrome who occasionally develop breast cancer?

A) XXY
B) XXX
C) XY
D) XX

Question 14

Breast cancer occasionally occurs in men treated for metastatic prostate cancer with:

A) diethylstilbestrol.
B) Cytoxan.
C) Methotrexate.
D) Avastin.

Question 15

After menopause, the primary source of circulating estrogens is:

A) ovarian biosynthesis.
B) biosynthesis in the adrenal glands.
C) aromatase-catalyzed biosynthesis in fat and muscle.
D) biosynthesis in the endometrial glands.

Question 16

Animal studies and some human studies suggest that breast cancer risk is decreased by high intake of:

A) n-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid.
B) n-3 fatty acids such as linolenic acid.
C) saturated fat.
D) fish oil.
E) a and c are correct.
F) b and d are correct.

Question 17

Arguments against the use of selective estrogen receptor modulators such as Tamoxifen for the chemoprevention of breast cancer include:

A) the absence of statistically significant reductions in the incidence of breast cancer among women receiving the drug in some randomized clinical trials.
B) lack of compliance in the trials.
C) a significant increase in the death rate among women receiving the drug in one trial.
D) heterogeneity of study design in all trials.
E) Only a and c are correct.

Question 18

Mammography has been shown to decrease breast cancer mortality in women over the age of 50 years by about:

A) 20%.
B) 30%.
C) 40%.
D) 50%.

Question 19

Describe the global burden of breast cancer.

Question 20

Discuss the classical risk factors of breast cancer initially identified by Janet Lane-Claypon.

Question 21

Discuss the hallmarks of familial breast cancer and the effects of mutant forms of BRCA-1 and BRCA-2.

Question 22

Discuss estrogen replacement therapy and the risk of breast cancer in women with differing body mass.

Question 23

Discuss time trends in breast cancer mortality in Japan versus the United States and potential reasons for trend differences.

Question 24

Discuss the value of mammography in the early detection of breast cancer.