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Oncology Flashcards

(63 cards)

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1
Q

what is cancer

A

A disease in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues; cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems

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2
Q

intrinsic factors

A

heredity, hormones, immunity, age

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3
Q

extrinsic factors

A

exposure to external, ingested, and/or inhaled substances

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4
Q

malignant

A
  • rapid rate of growth
  • invades surrounding tissue
  • metastasizes via the bloodstream and lymphatic system
  • usually poor cell differentiation
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5
Q

benign

A
  • slow rate of growth
  • expands in the same tissue
  • does not spread
    nearly normal cell differentiation
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6
Q

types of metastatic invasion

A

lymphatic, arteriovenous, serous cavity, CSF

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7
Q

most common types of cancer in Canada

A

 Lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer

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8
Q

lung cancer accounts for __% of all new cancer cases

A

14%

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9
Q

breast cancer accounts for about __% of all new cancer cases in women

A

25%

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10
Q

colorectal cancer accounts for __% of all new cancer cases

A

13%

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11
Q

primary prevention

A
  • Identify risk factors
  • Healthy diet
  • Moderate alcohol intake
  • Sun safety
  • Avoid known carcinogens (tobacco products, asbestos)
  • Wear PPE when working with carcinogens
  • Vaccines (HPV)
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12
Q

early detection uses the acronym

A

CAUTION

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13
Q

what does CAUTION stand for

A

Change in bowel or bladder habits
A sore that doesn’t heal
Unusual bleeding or discharge
Thickening of a lump in the breast or elsewhere
Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
Obvious changes in a wart or mole
Nagging cough or hoarseness

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14
Q

what is cancer staging

A

Describes the extent or severity of cancer based on the extent of spread in the body

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15
Q

why is staging important

A
  • Estimates the patient’s prognosis
  • Plan treatment
  • Important in identifying clinical trials (research studies) that may be suitable for a particular patient
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16
Q

elements of staging

A
  • Location of the primary tumor
  • Tumor size & number of tumors
  • Lymph node involvement
  • Presence or absence of metastasis
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17
Q

what is the TNM system

A
  • The extent of the tumor (T)
  • The extent of spread to the lymph nodes (N)
  • The presence of metastasis (M)
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18
Q

situ mean

A

Early cancer present only in the layer of cells in which it began

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19
Q

localized

A

Limited to the organ in which it began

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20
Q

regional

A

Spread beyond its primary site to nearby lymph nodes or organs and tissues

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21
Q

distant

A

Spread from primary site to distant organs or distant lymph nodes

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22
Q

stage 0

A

Carcinoma in situ

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23
Q

stage I, II, and III

A

Higher numbers indicate more extensive disease: larger tumor size and/or spread of the cancer beyond the organ in which it first developed to nearby lymph nodes and/or organs adjacent to the location of the primary tumor.

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24
Q

stage IV

A

The cancer has spread to other organs.

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25
tumor grading
Is a system used to classify cancer cells in terms of how abnormal they look under a microscope and how quickly the tumor is likely to grow and spread
26
how is grade determined
* A biopsy is taken and then examined by a pathologist * The pathologist determines whether the tumor is benign or malignant, and the tumor grade
27
Grade 1 tumor
mild dysplasia; well differentiated
28
Grade 2 tumor
moderate dysplasia; mod. differentiated
29
Grade 3 tumor
severe dysplasia; poorly differentiated
30
Grade 4 tumor
anaplasia; undifferentiated
31
how does tumor grade affect a pts options?
* A lower grade generally indicates a better prognosis * Grading is a factor in developing a treatment plan
32
goals of treatment
- cure (eradicates the disease) - control spread - palliative (controls disease and distressing symptoms)
33
chemotherapy
Treatment with chemicals that disrupts the cell cycle and kills malignant cells
34
2 types of chemotherapy
(1) cell cycle phase non-specific (2) cell cycle phase specific
35
goal of chemotherapy
to reduce number of cells
36
radiation
- Use of ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells - Breaks the chemical bonds in DNA, leading to damage of the cells - Aims for non-clonogenic cells → cells cannot regenerate - Skin reactions common S/E
37
general side effects of chemotherapy & radiation
* Fatigue * Bone marrow suppression
38
skin side effects of chemotherapy & radiation
* Erythema * Dry/moist desquamation * Alopecia
39
brain side effects of chemotherapy & radiation
cerebral edema
40
mouth side effects of chemotherapy & radiation
* Mucositis * Opportunistic infections * Dry mouth * Taste changes * Dental decay
41
neck side effects of chemotherapy & radiation
* Pharyngitis * Laryngitis * Esophagitis
42
thorax side effects of chemotherapy & radiation
* Pneumonia * Pulmonary toxicity
43
abdomen and pelvis side effects of chemotherapy & radiation
* N&V * Diarrhea * Cystitis (hemorrhagic) * Altered sexual dysfunction * Infertility * Premature menopause
44
two types of lung cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) - Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
45
small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
- Small cell carcinoma - Combined small cell carcinoma
46
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- Squamous cell carcinoma - Adenocarcinoma - Large cell undifferentiated carcinoma
47
squamous cell carcinoma
- almost always caused by cigarrete smoking , common in men - 30% of lung cancers, arises in bronchial epithelium - does not commonly metastasize - surgical resection common
48
adenocarcinoma
- associated with lung scarring and fibrosis (not related to smoking) - 40% of lung cancers, usually women, arises in peripheral portion of lungs - usually no manifestations until widespread - surgical resection common, does not respond to chemo well
49
large cell undifferentiated carcinoma
- associated with cigarette smoking and environmental carcinogens - 10% of lung cancers, highly metastatic, commonly peripheral - surgery not usually attempted due to high rate of metastases
50
small cell anaplastic undifferentiated
- associated with cigarette smoking and environmental carcinogens - 20-25% of lung cancers, commonly central - most malignant form/poor prognosis* - spreads via lymphatic system and bloodstream - chemotherapy and adjuvant radiation therapy - average median survival is 12-18 months
51
signs and symptoms of lung cancer
- Recurrent pneumonia and/or bronchitis - Persistent cough +/- sputum - Blood tinged sputum (hemoptysis) - Persistent mild to severe localized chest pain - Dyspnea and wheezing if bronchial obstruction - Hoarseness
52
later manifestations of lung cancer
- Pleural effusion - Bone pain - Dysphagia - Neurological changes (weakness; headaches; numbness in a limb; dizziness; seizures
53
treatment of lung cancer
- Surgical (pneumonectomy; lobectomy; segment or wedge resection; laser) - Chemotherapy - Radiation - Targeted therapies (for some types of NSCLC) - Liessa (gefetinib) - Tarceva (erlotinib) - Photodynamic therapy
54
oncological emergencies
spinal cord compression, superior vena cava syndrome, leukostasis
55
spinal cord compression
- Metastatic disease in the vertebral column, most commonly at the level of C5 - C6 - Can result in permanent neurological damage
56
Clinical manifestations of spinal cord compression
Pain, motor weakness, sensory impairment
57
diagnosis of spinal cord compression
MRI
58
treatment of spinal cord compression
surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and drugs (corticosteroids)
59
superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome
- Obstruction of the SVC through development of a thrombosis; tumor invasion of the SVC; external compression of the SVC by a tumor - Malignant disease of the thorax most common - venous enlargement d/t venous drainage in the upper trunk
60
clinical manifestations superior vena cava syndrome
- speed at which the obstruction develops - degree of blood flow obstruction
61
treatment for superior vena cava syndrome
depends on the cause of the obstruction
62
leukostasis
- Partial or complete obstruction of blood flow d/t ↑↑ numbers of circulating leukocytes - Increased blood viscosity & aggregation→ slower blood flow through capillaries → impaired capillary circulation and end-organ damage (brain & lungs)
63
clinical manifestations of leukostasis
neurological, pulmonary, kidney, heart

Med-Surg (15 decks)

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