Oncology Flashcards
(29 cards)
Define radical/curative treatment:
A treatment that has the aim to completely cure a patient of a cancer
Define life extending treatment:
Any medical intervention that is designed to extend a person’s life or slow the progression of a cancer
Define palliative treatment:
A treatment to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life and make patients comfortable who have a terminal illness.
Define adjuvant treatment:
A treatment given after an initial/primary treatment to lower the chance of the cancer returning.
Define Neo-adjuvant treatment:
A treatment given before the main treatment to reduce the size of a tumour to increase the chance of the main treatment being successful
Define maintenance therapy:
Treatment that is given to prevent cancer from returning after the initial treatment has removed it.
What are some acute presentations secondary to SACT (systemic anti cancer therapy)?
Neutropenic Sepsis
Tumour Lysis Syndrome
Immune Related Colitis
Radiation Mucositis
Thrombocytopenia
How can we differentiate haematlgy malignancies?
Myeloid:
Acute myeloid leukaemia
Chronic myeloproliferatice neoplasm
Lymphoid:
ALL
Chronic Lymphocytic leukaemia
Lymphoma
What are some differences between Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
Reed-sternburg cells in HL
Alcohol-induced lymph node pain in HL
B symptoms more likely and occur earlier in HL
Extra-nodal disease more likely in NHL
Best anti-emetic for chemo induced NV and why?
1) Ondansetron
2) Metoclopramide for delayed (days later)
3) Dex (may be useful)
What is the specialist anti-emetic for CINV?
Arepitant (NK1 antagonist)
Use with dex and ondansetron
Best anti-emetic for confusion (e.g. ^Ca)
Haloperidol (D2-Anti-psychotic)
Best anti-emetic for intracranial causes?
Cyclizine
Dex will help too
Best anti-emetic for an abdo tumour?
Metoclopramide (increases gastric peristalsis)
Tumour may be pressing on pylorus
What is the difference between allo-antibodies and auto-antibodies in regards to blood transfusions?
Allo-antibodies - antibodies produced by the body in response to foreign RBC antigens
Auto-antibodies - antibodies produced by the body to attack RBCs
What haematological condition causes pruritis after a hot bath?
Polycythemia vera
What are the metabolic abnormalities in tumour lysis syndrome?
High potassium, high phosphate, and low calcium
What do you do if d dimer is +ve and leg USS is -ve for DVT?
Stop DOAC and repeat leg USS in 7 days
What is the main distinguishing feature between lymphoma and leukaemia?
Lymphoma - abnormal cells found in lymphoid tissue
Leukaemia - abnormal cells found in peripheral blood
How can we distinguish between AML and CML?
Acute will have pancytopenia (low Hb and Platelets)
Chronic won’t
What’s the threshold for Hb and Platelet transfusions?
Hb - 70
Platelets - 50
What are the differentials for a peri-hilar mass on CXR?
Lung Cancer
Lympadenopathy
What can cause pancytopenia?
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Aplastic Anaemia
Long Term Anorexia
Solid Organ Cancer Metting to Bone Marrow
Lymphoma infiltrating marrow
How can you treat raised plasma viscosity?
Fluids (dilates)
Plasmapheresis (exchange plasma - more extreme though)
