Ward Round Notes

Demographics Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the second largest cause of cancer death. The incidence of breast cancer increases with age and peaks between the ages of 45-55 and plateaus from then onwards. The incidence of breast cancer is increasing due to increased screening.  Aeitiology and pathophysiology:  Breast cancer is caused by accumulation of genetic mutations leading to malignant growth.  Risk factors of breast cancer include:  Previous breast cancer Family history of breast cancer (if more than 2 first degree relatives have breast cancer, the risk to other members is doubled. )  Age Genetical - individuals with 4 relatively common genes are more susceptible to developing breast cancer. This includes BRCA 1, BRCA 2, CHEK2 and FGFR2. In individuals with these genes, lifetime risk of developing cancer may be up to 80% with a 60% risk of developing ovarian cancer.  Hormone replacement therapy with oest...

Myeloproliferative disorders are diseases where one type of myeloid cell is produced excessively. See this link re what is the difference between myeloproliferative disorders and lukaemias? https://www.pathologystudent.com/?p=2153 Primary thrombocythaemia (essential thrombocythaemia) Involves clonal proliferation of the megakaryocyte line of cells leading to a raised platelet level.  Most commonly presents after 50 but may occur at any age. In the younger age groups, it is more common in women than men.  May present as abnormal thrombosis or bleeding, or may be asymptotic (up to 50%) and be found incidentally on routine blood tests. Neurological symptoms from microthrombosis (paraesthesia/burning pain) or signs from arterial /venous thrombosis.  Splenomegaly and/or hepatomegaly may be present in some patients Differentials : other haematological conditions may also caused a raised platelet count, and platelet count may be acutely raised secondary to some condi...

Definition and demographics Occular melanomas are uncontrolled malignant proliferation of melanocytes in the eye. They can be divided into uveal melanomas, which arise in the iris, choroid body or ciliary body, and conjunctival melanomas which arise from the conjunctiva. Uveal melanomas are more common and is the most common type of primary eye malignancy, and second most common type of malignant melanoma.  Ocular melanoma is a rare condition which occurs equally in males and females and the with a peak incidence in people's 60s. It tends to affect fair skinned individuals more.  Aeitiology/pathophysiology Occular melanomas are caused by an accumulation of genetic changes. Sunlight exposure is a risk factor of developing melanoma. Other risk factors include being caucasion/fair skinned, having light coloured irides, melanosis or existing melanocytic naevi of the conjunctiva (moles), congenital ocular melanocytosis, neurofibromatosis and family history.  ...

Demographics:  Colon cancer is a common malignancy, it primarily presents in older patients, however it may occur earlier in two hereditary conditions which leads to colon cancer. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a autosomnal dominant condition which causes the formation of multiple polyps in the colon. The condition tends to cause cancer in patients by the age of 40. Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) also causes colon cancer in younger patients. HNPCC is also associated with endometrial, gastric, renal, uteric and CNS cancers.  Risk factors and causes Crohn's and Ulcerative colitis increases colorectal cancer risk History of small bowel cancer, endometrial cancer, breast cancer or ovarian cancer Family history - family member with cancer before the age of 60 Specific hereditary causes : FAP and HNPCC Low fibre diet and high red meat diet is thought to increase risk Sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, high alcohol intake Diabetes m...