A 41-year-old female with a family history of breast cancer has had a baseline mammogram. She states that she performs monthly self-breast exams but really has a hard time evaluating her lumps since she has numerous cysts. At her annual mammogram, the technician views a suspicious area and refers her to the radiologist. She asks the nurse in the office, "How can a lump appear so quickly?" The nurse's response is based on which of the following principles?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ratio of dividing cells to resting cells in a tissue mass is called the growth fraction. The doubling time is the length of time it takes for the total mass of cells in a tumor to double. Tumors do not stay in the M-phase of the cell cycle. Undifferentiated cancer cells do come in various shapes and sizes, but this has nothing to do with the detection of the tumor by palpation. Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs but are usually not cancerous.

A 41-Year-Old Female with a Family History of Breast Cancer