cancer

Question 1

What is cancer staging?

Answer 1

The process to assess the extent to which the tumour has developed

Question 2

What is the criteria used in staging

Answer 2

Extent of tumour growth
How it has extended into local tissues
Where lymph nodes are involved- location and number
Has it spread to distant sites

Question 3

what is TMN

Answer 3

internationally recognized cancer staging system

Question 4

what does TMN stand for

Answer 4

Tumour
lymph Node involvement
Metastasis

Question 5

What is metastasis?

Answer 5

it is a measure of the spread of the cancer.

Question 6

describe In situ in relation to the staging of cancer

Answer 6

Abnormal cells are present and have not spread to nearby tissue

Question 7

describe localised in relation to the staging of cancer

Answer 7

cancer is limited to the place where it started, has no sign of spreading

Question 8

describe Distant in relation to the staging of cancer

Answer 8

cancer has spread to distant parts of the body

Question 9

describe Unknown in relation to the staging of cancer

Answer 9

not enough information to figure out the stage

Question 10

what are the 2 pathways to a cancerous cell?

Answer 10

Epigenetic alterations
Genetic alterations

Question 11

what are epigenetic alterations?

Answer 11

changes in DNA methylation or acetylation and gene expression

Question 12

What are genetic alterations?

Answer 12

DNA mutation and faulty protein formation.
the impact of cell division

Question 13

Name some mutations that affect genes and whole chromosomes

Answer 13

Frame-shift, nonsense, mis-sense
translocation
Inversion
Insertion
Deletion
Amplifications

Question 14

what are the 4 hallmarks of cancer

Answer 14

continuous replication and increase in cell numbers
creation of tumour microenvironment
ability to metastasise
Genome instability leading to intertumoral hetrogeneity

Question 15

5 main routes of cancer metastases

Answer 15

local invasion
Lymphatic system
cardiovascular system (CCC)
perineural via nerve bundles
Peritoneal fluid

Question 16

name some causes of cancer metastases

Answer 16

DNA Mutation of certain genes
changes in methylation patterns
epithelial to mesenchymal transition caused by microenvironment

Question 17

treatment options for cancer

Answer 17

surgery
radiotherapy
cytotoxic chemo
angiogenesis inhibitors
hormone therapy

Question 18

what is chemotherapy?

Answer 18

treatment that involves using drugs to kill cancer cells.

Question 19

what drugs are used in chemotherapy and why?

Answer 19

Cytotoxic drugs - because they are toxic to cells especially fast growing cells

Question 20

which route are these drugs administered through?

Answer 20

IV or orally

Question 21

what factors must be considered before beginning chemotherapy

Answer 21

stage of cancer
overall health
treatment goals

Question 22

why would cytotoxic chemotherapy be chosen as a form of treatment?

Answer 22

it’s designed to target and destroy rapidly dividing cells.
these drugs interfere with the multiplying of cancerous cells
this stops the spread and shrinks the tumour.

Question 23

contraindications of this treatment

Answer 23

chemo affects healthy cells in your body too such as bone marrow, hair follicles and digestive system

Question 24

what is the role of the nurse when their patient undergoes chemotherapy?

Answer 24

educate
monitor
manage pain
assess
administer
support

Question 25

In describing the physiology and physiopathology of cancer, what must be mentioned?

Answer 25

physiology of normal cells compared to cancer cells
hallmarks of cancer
tumour microenvironment
metastasis

Question 26

define Carcinoma

Answer 26

malignant cancer originating from epithelial tissue lining

Question 27

references for cancer questions

Answer 27

Yates, 2020
cancer research uk, 2024