Cancer Therapies

Question 0

Radiotherapy

Answer 0

Ionising radiation to kill tumour cells

Question 1

Surgery as a therapy for cancer

Answer 1

Diagnosis
Staging
Curative
Palliative
Prophylactically

Question 2

Chemotherapy

Answer 2

Neoadjuvant prior to surgery
Primary therapy
Early control of micro mets
Adjuvant to reduce relapse
Palliative

Question 3

Alkylating chemo agents

Answer 3

Antiproliferative
Bind to alkyl groups in DNA
Cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, busulfan

Question 4

Antimetabolite chemo agents

Answer 4

Interfere with metabolism of nucleic acids

Methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil

Question 5

Vinca alkaloid chemo agents

Answer 5

“Spindle poisons “
Target cell division
Vincristine, vinblastine

Question 6

Antitumour antibiotics

Answer 6

Dactinomycin, doxorubicin, mitomycin

Question 7

Monoclonal antibodies for chemo

Answer 7

Inhibit angiogenesis (bevacizumab)
Inhibit epidermal growth factor receptors (panitumumab, cetuximab)

Question 8

Treatment of chemo side effects

Answer 8

Metoclopramide, ondansetron
Referrals for wig making etc
Immediate treatment of neutropenic sepsis (most common 10-14d after treatment)

Question 9

Beau’s lines

Answer 9

Horizontal depressions in nail plate.

Reflect cessation of keratin synthesis eg a round of chemo

Question 10

Early reactions to radiation

Answer 10

Tiredness, skin reactions (erythema, desquamation etc), mucositis, N&V&D, dysphagia, cystitis, bone marrow suppression

Question 11

Late reactions to radiation

Answer 11

CNS: somnolence, myelopathy, brachial plexopathy
Lung: pneumonitis
GI: xerostomia, benign strictures, fistulae, proctitis
GU: increased frequency, reduced fertility
Other: hypopituitarism, hypothyroidism

Question 12

Methods of delivering radiotherapy

Answer 12

External beam
Gamma knife
Brachytherapy
Radioisotope