Tag Archives: primary systemic therapy

Advanced Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast

Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

10-30% of all primary breast cancers are diagnosed as locally advanced which prohibits breast conservation methods.  Stage III breast cancer is considered locally advanced.

Stage (grade) III Breast Cancer

An example would be a 6 cm breast mass diagnosed as infiltrating ductal carcinoma with spread to lymph nodes.  (T3 N1 Mx)

Other examples:

  • Tumor is larger than 5 cm with positive spread to axillary lymph nodes, but the lymph nodes aren’t attached to each other.  Stage IIIA.
  • Tumor is smaller than 5 cm with positive spread of lymph nodes growing into each other and surrounding tissue.  Stage IIIA.
  • Tumor is smaller than 5 cm, but the cancer has spread to lymph nodes above the collar bone.  Stage IIIB.
  • Inflammatory breast cancer is considered stage IIIB breast cancer.

Treatment of locally advanced breast cancer

Neoadjuvant therapy is a historical term.  Now called primary systemic therapy.  This is giving chemotherapy prior to operation.

Workup includes bone scan and abdominal CT prior to initiating chemotherapy.