Cancer Flashcards
(40 cards)
Benign vs malignant tumors:
Benign
- Grow slowly
- Not invasive
- Capsulated
Malignant
- Grow rapidly
- Not encapsulated
- Invasive (spreads)
Benign tumors are named according to:
- Tissue they originate in
- “oma” suffix
“Lipoma, Osteoma…”
Hallmark signs of a cancer cell include:
- Anaplasia
- Pleomorphic
Anaplasia: Loss of cell differentiation
Pleomorphic: Variable size and shape
Malignant cancers are named based off:
What type of cells commonly result in cancer?
Type of cell they originate
Occurs in cells that replicate fast (melanoma)
Carcinoma in situ (CIS)
- What is it?
Pre-invasive tumor; not malignant but will be
(can spread but hasn’t yet)
What are the risks of cancer?
- Aging
- Genetic mutation
- Clonal proliferation (new cell with increased growth rate)
Cancer cells created from normal cell in lab:
What are some characteristics?
Transformed cells
- Immortal
- Lack contact inhibition
What are these terms:
- Proto-oncogenes
- Oncogenes
Proto-oncogenes: regulate normal cell growth
Oncogenes: Mutated proto-oncogenes
What are tumor-suppressor genes?
Make proteins that stop growth of cancer/oncogenes
If mutation occurs in somatic cells, will that spread to offspring?
No:
Mutations to gametes can be passed
How can chronic inflammation promote cancer?
Inflammatory cells release cytokines and free radicals;
Damage and mutate cells
What microbes can cause cancer?
- Bacteria (tissue damage)
- Viruses (HPV, Herpes, Hep)
What is Metastasis?
Cancer spreads from primary site to distant site.
By way of blood vessels/lymphatic system
What is the only way you can diagnose a tumor?
Through a biopsy
(other symptoms are variable)
What is:
Stage 1 cancer
Stage 2 cancer
Stage 1: No metastasis
Stage 2: Local invasion
What is:
Stage 3 cancer
Stage 4 cancer
Stage 3: Spread to lymph nodes
Stage 4: distant metastasis
What is the TNM system of staging?
T= tumor spread
N= Node involvment
M= Distant metastasis
What are tumor markers?
Substances made by benign or malignant tumor:
- Lab indication of tumor
- Diagnose specific types
When is pain seen in cancer?
Little/no pain in early stages
Advanced cancer: caused by direct pressure, stretching of organs
When is fatigue seen in cancer?
What are the causes?
Subjective of each patient: May or may not be seen
- Lack of appetite and sleep
- Treatments can cause
What is cachexia?
What causes it?
Severe form of malnutrition seen often in cancer patients at death
- Lack of energy, altered metabolism, altered taste
What is anemia?
What are the causes?
Decrease hemoglobin in blood
Chronic bleeding, malnutrition, chemotherapy.
What is leukopenia/thrombocytopenia?
What causes it in cancer patients?
Leukopenia= Low WBCs
Thrombocytopenia= Low platelets
- Chemotherapy (toxic to bone marrow) and subsequent infections
What gastrointestinal manifestations can occur in cancer patients?
Why?
- Malabsorption
- Ulcers
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
All of these caused by chemotherapy (toxic)
