Breast cancer

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Unit 611

May 2024

Breast cancer

The purpose of this activity is to provide you with an understanding of the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of breast cancers.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for females in Australia. The estimated number of breast cancer cases diagnosed in females for 2023 was around 20,500 with more than 240,000 Australians living with a history of breast cancer.

Breast cancer incidence has increased over the last 20 years. A large portion of this increase occurred around 2013 when breast screening was expanded to include women aged 70–74 years.

While survival rates for breast cancer overall are high, there is substantial variation in survival for different types of breast cancer. The most common type of carcinoma, the infiltrating duct carcinoma (no special type), which accounts for 73% of all breast cancers, had a five-year survival of 93% in the period 2015–2019.

It was estimated that nearly 3300 females would die from breast cancer in 2023. Like many other cancers, the increasing number of deaths is attributable to increasing population size and the ageing population.

As the first point of health contact for the majority of Australians, general practitioners play a significant role in the prevention, screening, diagnosis and after-treatment care of patients with breast cancer. General practice can improve the outcomes of cancer diagnosis through early intervention.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:

  • outline the components of the triple test and its application, including imaging and diagnostic biopsy options
  • discuss risk assessment and screening options available to women in the moderate- to high-risk categories for breast cancer
  • describe treatment options for breast cancer including surgery, radiotherapy and medical therapies
  • discuss the management of risk-reducing medications
  • advise on risk-reducing lifestyle changes.

Case studies

Below is a list of the case studies found in this month's edition of check. To see how these case studies unfold and gain valuable insights into this months topic, log into gplearning to complete the course.

Louise, aged 37 years, presents for a review and repeat of her oral contraceptive script. She wants to discuss whether she should start breast screening as her mother Shirley was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 45 years. 

Marie is a support worker, aged 53 years. She presents to you concerned about a lump in her left breast. Marie found the lump about six weeks ago after having noticed some pain in the same area. She had her second screening mammogram last year, which was reported as showing no sign of cancer, so she was not overly concerned. However, last week, after one of her friends was diagnosed with breast cancer, she thought she would come to see you.

Fiona, aged 31 years, has returned to you with a persistent breast lump. She first felt the breast lump four months ago. An ultrasound performed then showed only dense glandular tissue with a few small, scattered cysts. Fiona presents quite anxious that the lump is increasing in size.

Belle, aged 55 years and postmenopausal, has been having regular breast screening as she has a significant family history of breast cancer. She is asymptomatic and previous imaging has shown dense breasts.

Lucy, a schoolteacher aged 49 years, felt a lump in her breast while in the shower and promptly visited you to have it checked. You organised a diagnostic mammogram with tomosynthesis and bilateral breast ultrasound. Her mammogram shows dense breast tissue (BI-RADS category C) with an area of microcalcification in the medial aspect of her left breast and a 2-cm hypoechoic, irregular mass at 8 o’clock in her left breast on ultrasound. Core biopsy of this lesion shows a moderately differentiated, ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-negative invasive carcinoma (no special type) with associated ductal carcinoma in situ. 

CPD

This unit of check is approved for 10 hours of CPD activity (two hours per case). The 10 hours, when completed, including the online questions, comprise five hours’ Educational Activities and five hours’ Reviewing Performance.
Educational
Activities
5
hours
Measuring
Outcomes
0
hours
Reviewing
Performance
5
hours

Complete check online

To enroll in this check unit online: 

  1. Log into myCPD home page
  2. Select 'Browse' and search for 767394
  3. Select the course and register

Please note: If you're not a member of the RACGP or don't have a check subscription, click here.

TOPICS

Women's health

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