Cancer Flashcards
(152 cards)
Effective screening programme
Affordable for the healthcare system
Acceptable to all social groups
Reduce mortality from cancer
Good discriminatory index between benign and malignant lesions
How do pt with cancer present
Screening programmes
Recent change in symptoms ie wt loss, lump, change in bowel habit
Age > 75y/o common to A/E
Local spread of cancer
Nearby tissue often causes compressive/obstructive problems
Distant spread of cancer
Metastasis from initial to 2ndary site commonly lymph nodes, brain, liver, bones and lung
Lymphatic, haematogenous and transcolemic
Lymphatic spread
Comment route of metastasis can lead to haematogenous spread as the thoracic duct drains into the IVC. Lymphadenopathy can = pain due to obstruction/swelling
- ENT = facial/neck lymphadenopathy
- Gastric, oesophageal and breast to axillary and L supraclavicular
- Testicular and ovarian to paraaortic
- Vulval, scrotal and vaginal to femoral/inguinal
Transcolemic spread
Spreads throughout the peritoneum in the circulating peritoneal fluid. Passes up the L paracolic gutter, across surface of the liver and diaphragm and down the omentum
Haematogenous spread
Via the blood spreads rapidly usually venous flow as narrower walls are easier to penetrate
Government targets for cancer
2wk wait - Any GP can refer suspicious red flag symptoms for investigation
31 day limit - 1st treatment must start within 31 days of agreement with pt
62 day limit - Treatment must begin within 62 days of referral
Common PC of cancer
Ascites - ovarian, gastric, pancreatic, HCC
Change in bowel - CRC, prostate, ovary
Dysphagia - Oesophageal, gastric, lung
#’s = 1 sarcoma, mets from renal,thyroid, lung, prostate and breast
Jaundice - HCC, cholangiocarcinoma,
Cancer of unknown primary
Tumor is able to metastasis before the primary site can be identified. Tends to be aggressive, disseminate early and be unpredictable. 5-10% of all cancers
Cause of CUP
i) Squamous cancer usually arising from head and neck/lung. Usually respond well
ii) Poorly differentiated or anaplastic - high grade lymphomas or germ cell tumours respond well treatment
iii) Adenocarcinomas poor prognosis usually pancreas or lung
CUP Mx
Speak to oncologist. Search for a site! You must rule out potentially curable tumors = germ cell!!
CXR, CT chest abdo pelvis, rectal USS = prostate, mammogram = breast
Use tumor markers, full examination PV and testicular
Poor prognosis of CUP
Adenocarcinoma on histology Hepatic/renal involvement Poor performance status >10% wt loss Supraclavicular lymph node involvement High tumor marker levels
Cytological grading
C1 = inadequate for testing C2 = normal morphology C3 = cells abnormal but likely to benign C4 = highly suspicious of cancer C5 = Cancer cells present
Empyema
pH <7.2, low glucose, high WCC + present on culture/microscopy
Transudate vs Exudate
Transudate = protein <3g/l = cirrhosis, HF, renal failure and meigs syndrome
Exudate = protein >3g/L due to infection, inflammation (RA,SLE), PE or cancer.
Pleural albumin : serum albumin >0.5
Pleural LDH : Serum LDH >0.6
Hypercalcemia
Common complication of malignancy seen in 40% of pt
PC - non specific, renal failure, bone pain, confusion, conspitation
Due to either direct invasion of bones - mets, myeloma or squamous cell producing PTHrp
Confusion in cancer pt
Brain mets, hypercalcemia, constipation - bowel obstruction, infection, opiod OD, metabolic disturbance
Mx CUP
Curative treatment = survival
Palliative = QoL, secondary objective - duration of life
Factors influencing decision = pt choice, age, performance status, organ impairment
Smoking
Linked to 90% of lung cancer. Also increases the incidence of oesophageal, laryngeal, bladder, cervical and breast cancer
Asbestos
Causes malignant mesothelioma, potentiates risk of lung cancer if smoker
Amines in dye/rubber
Bladder cancer
Benzene
Myeloid leukaemia
Ionising radiation
BM, breast and thyroid all very sensitive