cancer Flashcards

1
Q

cancer

A

characterized by uncontrolled and unregulated growth of cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

pathophysiology of cancer

A
  • divide indiscriminately and haphazardly
  • proliferate at the same rate as the normal cell tissue from which they originate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

3 steps of cancer

A
  • initiation
  • promotion
  • progression
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

initiation (step 1) of cancer

A

mutation occurs in a cell’s DNA leading to activation of oncogenes or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

promotion (step 2) of cancer

A

mutated cells undergo continual, unregulated proliferation forming a small cluster of abnormal cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

progression (step 3) of cancer

A

abnormal cells continue to divide and grow forming a tumor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

oncogenes

A

genes that promote cell growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

benign neoplasm tumors

A
  • well differentiated
  • encapsulated
  • expansive mode of growth
  • metastasis absent
  • rarely recur
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

malignant neoplasm tumors

A
  • usually undifferentiated
  • able to metastasize
    -infiltrative and expansive growth
  • frequent recurrence
  • moderate to marked vascularity
  • rarely encapsulated
  • becomes less like parent cell
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

immunological surveillance

A
  • lymphocytes check cell surface antigens and destroy abnormal cells
  • cytotoxic T cells kill tumour cells
  • natural killer cells and activated macrophages lyse tumour cells
  • B cells produce antibodies directed to tumour surface antigens
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

immunological escape (mechanisms in which cancer cells evade immune system)

A
  • suppress factors that stimulate T cells
  • weak surface antigens allow cancer cells to “sneak through”
  • immune system tolerance by some tumour antigens
  • suppress immune response from products secreted by cancer cells
  • induction of suppressor T cells
  • blocking antibodies bind tumour-associated antigens preventing recognition
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

origin of cancer

A
  • genetic
  • chemical
  • environmental
  • viral or immunological
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

main sites of metastasis

A
  • brain and cerebro-spinal fluid
  • lung
  • liver
  • adrenals
  • bone
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

anatomical site classification of tumours

A
  • tissue of origin
  • embryonal ectoderm (skin, glands)
  • endoderm (mucous membranes)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

histological classification of tumours

A
  • appearance of cells
  • poorly differentiated tumours have a worse prognosis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

grade I cancer

A
  • cells differ slightly from normal
  • well differentiated
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

grade II cancer

A
  • moderate dysplasia and differentiation
  • limited local spread
18
Q

grade III cancer

A
  • abnormal cells
  • poorly differentiated
  • extensive local and regional spread
19
Q

grade IV cancer

A
  • cells are immature, primitive and undifferentiated
  • cell of origin is difficult to determine
  • metastasis
20
Q

TNM cancer classification system

A
  • tumour size and invasiveness (T)
  • spread to lymph nodes (N)
  • metastasis (M)
21
Q

lung cancer

A
  • insidious and often asymptomatic until late in its course

risk factors
- tobacco
- environmental and occupational factors
- genetics
- dietary (low fruits and veggies)

22
Q

lung cancer : non-small cell carcinoma (NSCC)

A
  • 87%
  • adenocarcinoma (38%)
  • squamous cell (20%)
  • large cell (5%)
22
Q

lung cancer : small cell carcinoma

A
  • 13%
23
Q

CM of lung cancer

A
  • cough
  • dyspnea
  • blood-tinged sputum
  • recurrent chest infections
  • wheezing
  • chest and shoulder pain
  • palpable lymph nodes
24
Q

lung cancer assessment

A
  • chest xray
  • CT
  • sputum cytology
  • bronchoscopy
  • needle aspiration
  • scans for metastases
25
Q

dx of cancer

A
  • health history
  • identification of risk factors
  • physical exam
  • specific diagnostic studies
26
Q

bronchoscopy

A
  • visualizes tracheobronchial tree
  • used for dx sampling and therapeutic interventions (lavage, balloon dilation)
27
Q

cancer tx

A
  • surgery
  • radiation
  • chemotherapy
  • palliation
28
Q

chemotherapy

A
  • inhibits synthesis of cellular enzymes
  • hinder DNA replication
  • induce cell damage and apoptosis
29
Q

classification of chemo medications

A
  • target different stages of cell cycle
  • some damage cells at point of splitting
  • some damage cells while they make copies
30
Q

effects of chemo on normal tissue

A
  • can kill/slow growth of healthy cells that grow and divide quickly (ex. cells that line the mouth, intestines, cause hair growth, bone marrow)
31
Q

chemo tx plan

A
  • few hours-days
  • every week or in intervals
32
Q

nadir

A

lowest amount of WBC that a person reaches following each chemo cycle

33
Q

cisplatin

A
  • chemo drug used to tx testicular, ovarian, bladder, head, neck, lung, and cervical cancer

MOA
- ability to crosslink with purine bases on DNA
- interfering with DNA repair
- causing DNA damage
- inducing apoptosis in cancer cells

side effects
- ototoxicity
- hepatotoxicity
- gastrointestinal toxicity
- hematological toxicity
- retinal toxicity
- cardio toxicity
- neurotoxicity
- nephrotoxicity

34
Q

etoposide

A
  • chemo drug used in management and tx of testicular, prostate, bladder, stomach, lung cancer

MOA
- kills cells by stabilizing enzyme-cleaved DNA complex that is a transient intermediate in the catalytic cycle of topoisomerase II

side effects:
- infection
- anemia
- bruising, bleeding
- n&v
- sores in mouth
- hair loss

35
Q

radiation

A
  • kills cancer cells by using beams of high energy
  • tx daily, 5 days a week for 5-8 weeks
  • goals of therapy: curative, shrink tumours
36
Q

palliation

A
  • may include radiation
  • pain management and comfort measures
  • evaluation
  • hospice referral
37
Q

nursing management chemo induced n&v

A
  • antiemetics
  • lifestyle management (eat foods they feel like eating, avoid strong smells, avoid warm food, eat smaller meals more frequently)
38
Q

psychological care

A
  • support pt and family
  • awareness of behavioural patterns
  • facilitate development of a hopeful, realistic attitude about cancer
39
Q
A