PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF BREAST CANCER

Predisposing Factors: Precipitating Factors:

Gender Lifestyle (Obesity, smoking,
BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 genetic INITIATION OF alcohol intake)
mutation Ionizing radiation and other
Increasing age associated chemicals
Personal or family history of Hormone replacement
breast cancer therapy
Early menarche Sexual practices
Late menopause Physical and environmental

Body responses to
carcinogens
Legend:

Pathway
Signs/Symptoms Cell injury
Progression of CA
Nursing Care Plan
Treatment
Damage in genetic
material (DNA)

Hyperplasia

Loss of P53
Recurrent injury
resulting to
Metaplasia

Loss of Apoptosis
Prolonged injury
causing complete
mutation
Decreased
Dysplasia
Neoplasia
Anaplasia
T-cell in
the circulation
 Irregular tissue changes in a form of
breast changes that may not necessarily
be noted early

Fatigue related to decreased metabolic

energy production, hypermetabolic
state as evidenced by lack of energy, Alternative methods in alleviating pain such as
restlessness, inability to concentrate providing calm environment, guided imagery, deep
breathing exercise. If not controlled, give Analgesics
as prescribed
Start of either chemotherapy, radiation
therapy, mastectomy or as prescribed by
the specialist
Submit for different
Start of growth of tumor (benign or diagnostic tests for Breast
PROMOTION OF CA
malignant)

Surrounding nutrients are being

Angiogenesis Hypoxia Lactic Acid formation Pain
absorbed
Cell starvation leading to insulin nutrition less than body
Imbalanced
Hypothalamus
deficiency was Anoxia Oxygen Therapy
requirements related to hypermetabolic Risk for infection may be related to
signaled to respond
Situational low self-esteem state,todistress
the and pain as evidenced by decreased nutritional intake and
related to psychosocial regardcell starvation
weakness, weight loss, pale conjunctiva inadequate secondary defenses and
of the disease as evidenced by and mucous membranes, changes in Acute Pain related
Risk to biological
for imbalanced and physiological
thermoregulation
immunosupression
Cell death
verbalization of preoccupation appetite and eating habits, nausea, change related
in cellular DNA dueinfection
to possible to disease process as
secondary
Lipolysis (Fat Provide analgesics as prescribed
of the changes and possiblebreakdown)vomiting and fatigue secondary to breast evidenced by reports of pain, facial
to immunocompromised state as grimacing,
Inflammatory responses
loss, fear and anxiety cancer disease process guarding behavior,
evidenced narrowed
by changes focus, and change in
in temperature,
Weight
Weakness
Cachexia
Anorexia
Fats loss
loss Pain
(Release of kinins)
appetite, sleep disturbances, and restlessness
dryness of skin