Breast Cancer, a Heterogeneous Disease Entity: The Very Early Stages

Description

The volume raises attention to the need of a completely new approach to breast cancer based on the knowledge collected on early breast cancer in the past two decades. The chapters are contributed by experts of all the fields participating in the clinical research and care of breast cancer. The practical importance of such a book is underlined by the increasing number of breast cancer cases, and also the increasing proportion of early stage-cases. The ultimate goal of the book is to point to the heterogeneous nature of the disease which is more striking and has more importance in care at the very early stages than at the more advanced stages. The book recommends the utilisation of all the information provided by multimodality imaging and special pathological methods, a new classification system and therapeutic guidelines since early breast cancers should not be treated based on experience obtained with palpable tumors. No similar book has been yet released to the market. The book is written for all the members of the team participating in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, clinical and radiation oncologists), but may be useful for medical students and residents too. The chapters are illustrated with didactic pictures, and special emphasis is given to provide a peep into the practice of the special procedures for the careful examination and individualized therapy of each case. Front Matter....Pages 1-1 A New Approach to Early Breast Cancer....Pages 1-22 Screening of Breast Cancer....Pages 23-44 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the Screening of High-Risk Patients and in the Detection and Diagnosis of Early Breast Cancer....Pages 45-55 Large-Format Histology, a Prerequisite for Adequate Assessment of Early Breast Carcinomas....Pages 57-88 The Molecular Evolution of Breast Cancer Precursors and Risk Indicators....Pages 89-117 Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Biology of Breast Cancers: Old and New Prognostic Factors....Pages 119-148 Sentinel Node Biopsy and Nodal Staging....Pages 149-183 Tailored Surgery: Limited Breast and Lymph Node Surgery....Pages 185-210 Radiotherapy—A New Approach to Risk-Adapted Selective Radiotherapy....Pages 211-240 The Risks of Breast Radiotherapy and How to Avoid Them....Pages 241-268 Systemic Adjuvant Therapy for Stage I Breast Cancer....Pages 269-281 Systemic Therapy: Selection of Patients....Pages 283-304 Back Matter....Pages 302-302