Pathologies related to oncology

Question 1

other terms for cancer

Answer 1

neoplasm
tumor

Question 2

what is hyperplasia

Answer 2

increased number of cells

Question 3

what is metaplasia

Answer 3

an adult cell changes from one type to another

Question 4

what is dysplasia

Answer 4

a greater presence of abnormal cells

Question 5

what is differentiation

Answer 5

normal cells mature or differentiate into mature types of normal tissue

malignant cells do not differentiate into mature types of cells (undifferentiated)

more undifferentiated = more aggressive

Question 6

what is anaplasia

Answer 6

loss of differentiation

hallmark sign of malignant disease

Question 7

how can neoplasms be classified

Answer 7

cell type
tissue origin
degree of differentiation
anatomic site
benign or malignant

Question 8

what is the difference between primary and secondary tissue origin

Answer 8

primary arises from a local tissue
secondary metastasized from distant tissue in another part of the body

Question 9

what are the different stages of cancer and their markers

Answer 9

stage 0 = premalignant/preinvasive
stage 1 = early stage, local cancer
stage 2 = increased risk of spread because of tumor size
stage 3 = local cancer has spread but may not be metastasized to distant regions
stage 4 = cancer has spread and metastasized to distant sites

Question 10

what cancer contributes to the largest number of deaths

Answer 10

lung

Question 11

what are the top 3 most prevalent cancers in women

Answer 11

Breast
lung
colorectal

Question 12

what are the top 3 most prevalent cancers in men

Answer 12

prostate
lung
colorectal

Question 13

what is a common thread between most of the more prevalent cancers

Answer 13

they involve mucous producing glands

thats why adeno carcinomas are most common in adults

Question 14

describe the incidence of cancer in the past 50 years

Answer 14

peaked in 90s and has declined since

better prevention and treatment

Question 15

what are the most treatable cancers

Answer 15

prostate and breast

Question 16

what cancers are most likely to be brought on by genetic origin

Answer 16

prostate
breast
ovarian
colorectal

Question 17

what percent of cancer is caused by environmental factors

Answer 17

50% caused by more than 500 different cancer causing agents

Question 18

what are common risk factors for cancer

Answer 18

heredity
prior cancer
age over 50 years
lifestyle (i.e. sedentary, drugs, SAD)
some viruses
excessive/abnormal amounts of hormones
insulin/testosterone
geographic location
gender
race/ethnicity (greater in minorities)
low socioeconomic = poverty/less insurance
inflammatory diseases
precancerous lesions
stress/depression

Question 19

stress and depression can cause

Answer 19

immune suppression
increased inflammation
interferes with DNA repair and regulation of cell growth for health

Question 20

what are the current thoughts on pathogenesis of cancer

Answer 20

chromosomal changes as one of the basic mechanisms of tumor cell proliferation is the foundation of modern cancer cytogenetics

cytogenetics = study of chromosomes in cancer

Question 21

chromosomal changes can include what

Answer 21

the addition or deletion of entire chromosomes by risk factors-epigenetocs

Question 22

when does metastasis generally occur

Answer 22

3-5 years after initial diagnosis

Question 23

5 most common sites of metastasis

Answer 23

Lung = most common site
liver
bone
brain
lymph nodes

Question 24

describe the incidence of metastasis

Answer 24

30% of clients with newly diagnosed cancers have clinically detectable metastases

at least 30-40% of remaining clients who are clinically free of metastases harbor occult (hidden) metastases

Question 25

the ability of a tumor to metastasize depends on what

Answer 25

access to blood supply (tumors secrete enzymes that dissolve into basement membrane, go to lymph, and get transferred into blood stream) possibly dependent on hormone concentration

Question 26

how does exercise affect cancer

Answer 26

important role in prevention and dampening side effects of treatment as well as promoting improved health of survivors *fatigue is a big issue so must consider energy conservation

Question 27

childhood cancer prevalence

Answer 27

80% of children with cancer will survive 5+ years cancer = 2nd leading cause of death among children between 1 and 14 y.o. almost 1/2 of childhood cancers involve blood or blood forming organs

Question 28

most common child cancer

Answer 28

leukemias (particularly acute lymphocytic leukemia) = cancers of T and B or immune cells

Question 29

incidence of childhood leukemia

Answer 29

increasing accounts for almost 1/3 of all pediatric cancers

Question 30

risk factors for childhood cancers

Answer 30

prior cancer down syndrome more common in white males

Question 31

pathogenesis of childhood leukemia

Answer 31

inability to develop mature T and B cells and replace bone marrow

Question 32

signs/symptoms of childhood leukemia

Answer 32

transient joint pain; large joints, 60% of cases typical cancer S&S hepatic S&S- b/c enlargement from trying to remove excess non-selfs mediastinal mass may create respiratory S&S easy bruising due to spleen enlargement

Question 33

what are soft tissue carcinomas? most common type?

Answer 33

cancer than begins in soft tissue rhabdomyosarcoma = most common (in skeletal muscle)

Question 34

incidence/risk factors of soft tissue carcinomas

Answer 34

peak incidence = 2 and 5 years of age 2nd peak = 15 and 19 years of age more common in white males

Question 35

signs and symptoms of soft tissue sarcomas

Answer 35

site dependent often painless mass in muscle typical cancer S&S

Question 36

what does the term late effects refer to

Answer 36

damaging effects of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy on nonmalignant tissues as well as to the social, emotional, and economical consequences of survival identified in almost every organ system

Question 37

late effects examples

Answer 37

surgery/radiation involving MSK system have been associated with defects such as kyphosis, scoliosis, and spinal shortening child who receives radiation/chemo has a 10x greater chance of developing cancer than a child who has never had cancer