Cancer Care Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is primary cancer prevention?
Actions to prevent cancer before it occurs (e.g., HPV vaccine, chemoprevention).
What is chemoprevention?
Taking medications to reduce the risk of cancer or recurrence.
What is secondary cancer prevention?
Early detection of cancer using screenings like PSA, Pap smear.
What is tertiary cancer prevention?
Patient already has cancer, we are now doing things to slow down to progression
1 concern with chemotherapy?
Bleeding and infection due to bone marrow suppression.
Most common side effect of chemo?
Nausea and Vomitting
What are oral related side effects of chemo?
Xerostomia (dry mouth)
Stomatitis, mucosal ulcerations
Skin-related chemo side effects?
Pruritus
Skin breakdown
Alopecia
What are serious organ-related side effects of chemo?
Cardiotoxicity
Neurotoxicity
Sterility
T/F chemo cause panyctopenia
True
T/F cancer causes dizzniess and fatigue
True
A patient with cancer is experiencing muffled heart sounds, hypotension, and jugular vein distention. What life-threatening condition should the nurse suspect?
Pericardial Effusion with Cardiac Tamponade
What is Pericardial Effusion and Tamponade?
Fluid builds up in the pericardial sac, compressing the heart and preventing effective pumping → leads to decreased blood flow.
A cancer patient complains of bone pain, confusion, abdominal discomfort, and you note elevated calcium levels. What emergency does this indicate?
Hypercalcemia
A cancer patient presents with facial swelling, neck vein distention, dyspnea, and a feeling of fullness in the head. What oncological emergency do you suspect?
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
A patient undergoing cancer treatment reports new onset back pain, trouble walking, and bowel/bladder incontinence. What is the priority concern?
Spinal Cord Compression
A patient receiving chemo develops sudden muscle cramps, arrhythmias, high potassium, and high uric acid levels. What complication is this?
Tumor Lysis Syndrome
A patient with advanced cancer has prolonged bleeding, bruising, and oozing from IV sites. What serious coagulopathy is suspected?
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
What is DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation)?
A serious disorder causing both bleeding and clotting at the same time due to overactive coagulation.
What is Tumor Lysis Syndrome?
too many tumor cells die at once, releasing their contents into the blood → causes electrolyte imbalances and renal failure risk.
What is Superior Vena Cava Syndrome?
Blocked blood flow through the superior vena cava, causing dyspnea, lightheadedness, fluid overload, and edema.
What are key nursing interventions for a patient undergoing cancer treatment?
Pain control
Emotional/grief support
Monitor for bleeding and signs of infection
Nutritional support
Frequent vital signs monitoring
Management of symptoms
