Cancer Screening for PTs

Question 1

Primary methods when screening for cancer

Answer 1

Basic tools
Suspicious red flag findings or lesions
Understand risk factors for cancer and keep resources to aide decision making

Question 2

Greatest reason for early detection for cancer

Answer 2

Early detection may reduce mortality rate

Question 3

Immediate physician referral (1)

Answer 3

Recently discovered lumps or nodules or a change in known lumps, nodules, or moles. Especially in individuals with a known history of cancer.

Question 4

Immediate physician referral (2)

Answer 4

Lymph node enlargement or suspicious lymph node. Palpable, fixed, and irregular mass in the breast of axilla

Question 5

Immediate physician referral (3)

Answer 5

Presence of lymphadenopathy

Question 6

Immediate physician referral (4)

Answer 6

Presence of early warning signs (CAUTIONS)

i.e. Idiopathic muscle weakness accompanied by decreased DTR’s

Question 7

Immediate physician referral (5)

Answer 7

Unexplained bleeding from any area (i.e. nose, blood in urine or stool, ear, mole or skin, mouth)

Question 8

Immediate physician referral (6)

Answer 8

Signs or symptoms of metastasis in a patient with a past history of cancer

Question 9

Immediate physician referral (7)

Answer 9

Male w/ pelvic, groin, SIJ, or LBP w/ leg symptoms and a past history of prostate cancer

Question 10

What acronym do we use to screen for early warning signs of cancer?

Answer 10

CAUTIONS

Question 11

What does C stand for in CAUTIONS?

Answer 11

Change in bowel or bladder habits

Question 12

What does A stand for in CAUTIONS?

Answer 12

A sore that does not heal in 6 weeks

Question 13

What does U stand for in CAUTIONS?

Answer 13

Unusual discharge or bleeding

Question 14

What does T stand for in CAUTIONS?

Answer 14

Thickening or lump anywhere

Question 15

What does I stand for in CAUTIONS?

Answer 15

Indigestion or difficulty swallowing

Question 16

What does O stand for in CAUTIONS?

Answer 16

Obvious change in wart or mole

Question 17

What does N stand for in CAUTIONS?

Answer 17

Nagging cough or hoarseness

Question 18

What does S stand for in CAUTIONS?

Answer 18

Supplementary signs/symptoms

Question 19

What qualifies as supplementary signs/symptoms?

Answer 19

Recent weight gain/loss
Night pain (worst pain in 24-hour period)
Proximal muscle weakness (symmetrical and idiopathic)
Change in DTRs
Pathological fractures

Question 20

What is important to know about bleeding when it comes to cancer?

Answer 20

It is an important sign BUT is indicative of advanced cancer

Question 21

What is important to know about pain when it comes to cancer?

Answer 21

Pain is rarely an early warning sign
Tumors do not have nociceptors
60-80% of people with solid tumors have pain

Question 22

What is important to know about the early stages of cancer?

Answer 22

Early stages are often asymptomatic

Question 23

Non-modifiable risk factors for cancer

Answer 23

Age greater than 50 years old
Family/personal history of cancer
Ethnicity
Heredity

Question 24

What age does a majority of cancers occur?

Answer 24

After 65

Question 25

What family qualifies when talking about family/personal history of cancer?

Answer 25

Immediate biological family

Question 26

What ethnicity is most at risk for cancer?

Answer 26

African-americans have the highest rate

Question 27

What cancers that we talked about in class are hereditary?

Answer 27

5% breast, ovarian, colon

Question 28

Modifiable risk factors for cancer

Answer 28

``` Tobacco use Chemical exposure Alcohol Sedentary lifestyle Obesity Lack of access to health care ```

Question 29

What is important to know about tobacco use when it comes to risk factors for cancer?

Answer 29

It includes 2nd hand smoke

Question 30

What is important to know about alcohol use when it comes to risk factors for cancer?

Answer 30

Greater than 2 drinks per day

Question 31

What is important to know about obesity when it comes to risk factors for cancer?

Answer 31

It is related to around 1/3 of cancer deaths

Question 32

Those who are over 50 have a higher risk of...

Answer 32

Cancer, AAA, fracture, and infection

Question 33

People who have a past or present history of any type of cancer have an increased risk of...

Answer 33

Cancer-causing LBP

Question 34

What are common metastatic cancers that cause LBP?

Answer 34

Prostate, breast, kidney, thyroid, lung, and lymphoma ("lead kettle" mnemonic = PB KTLL)

Question 35

Those who have pain not relieved with rest or wakes at night not related to movement or positioning have a higher risk of...

Answer 35

Cancer, AAA, infection

Question 36

How much weight loss is concerning/indicative for cancer?

Answer 36

5-10% in 6 months not directly related to diet or exercise

Question 37

Characteristics of benign tumors

Answer 37

Cells are well differentiated Well organized stroma Named after tissue of origin + -oma Space occupying lesion -> compression

Question 38

Characteristics of malignant tumors

Answer 38

Cells are poorly differentiated (anaplasia and pleomorphic) | No organized stroma

Question 39

What does anaplasia mean?

Answer 39

Loss of differentiation

Question 40

What does pleomorphic mean?

Answer 40

Variability in size and shape

Question 41

What is stroma?

Answer 41

A capsule

Question 42

Why is it bad for tumors to not have stromas?

Answer 42

Easier for cells to spread

Question 43

Invasive tumor characteristics

Answer 43

Malignant tumor that has invaded surrounding tissue | Spread of cancer cells from primary to secondary site