Week 1 oncology Flashcards by rhys james

What are the 4 most common types of cancer

Lung, brest, prostate and colorectal

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what are cancer warning signs

C-Change in bowel or bladder
A- Lesion that does not heal
U-Unusual bleeding or discharge
T-Thickening or lump
I-Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
O-Obvious change in wart or mole
N-Nagging cough or persistent hoarseness
U-Unexplained weight loss
P-Pernicious anemia

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Who should have a colon screening performed and how often?

Anyone 50-75 years old should get one every two years

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Who should have a cervical screening how often and what test is performed?

Anyone with a cervix aged 25-69 should have one every 3-5 years and it is either a pap test or self cervical screening

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Who should have a lung screening what test is done and how often?

People who are at high risk (ex smokers) ages 55-74 should have a low dose CT scan done every 3 years

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Who should receive breast screening? What test is done? How often?

people aged 40-59 should be screened every 2 years with a mammogram

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Who should receive prostate screening? What test is done? How often?

people with a prostate ages 50-70 should get a digital rectal exam every 3 years

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what are the 3 stages of cancer pathology

Initiation
Promotion
Progression

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is involved in the initiation phase of cancer pathology

mutation in the cell’s genetic structure resulting from an inherited mutation, an error that occurs during DNA replication or after exposure to a carcinogen

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is involved in the promotion phase of cancer pathology

the second stage in the development of cancer, is characterized by the reversible proliferation of the altered cells.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is involved in the progression phase of cancer pathology

when the tumor growth rate increases and metastasis start to occur

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what are some of the most common sites for cancer metastasis

Brain
Bone
Liver
Adrenal Gland

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what are 4 key factors that can initiate cancer

-Chemical
-Radiation
-Viral and bacterial carcinogens
-Genetic susceptibility

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what does carcinoma mean

cancer that starts on the skin or on the tissue that lines or covers internal organs

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what does sarcoma mean

cancer of the connective tissue

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what structure in the body does leukemia affect

Cancer of the bone marrow

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is stage 0 cancer

when the cancer is in situ and contained

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is stage 1 cancer

Tumor limited to the tissue of origin; localized tumor growth

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is stage 2 cancer

Limited local spread

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is stage 3 cancer

Extensive local and regional spread and the tumor has most likely gown out of the organ it started in to nearby tissue/lymph

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what is stage 4 cancer

the cancer has spread through the blood or lymph to a distant site in the body to form metastasis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

what are the four classifications of tumor size according to TNM grading scale

TX: unable to measure tumor
T0: No evidence of tumor
TIS: Tumor hasn’t grown into nearby tissue
T1-T4: tumor has grown into nearby tissue to varying degrees

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the three classifications of lymph node involvement according to the TNM grading scale

NX: unable to evaluate lymph nodes
N0: No cancer found in the lymph nodes
N1-N3: Cancer has spread into lymph nodes to a varying degree

what are the two classifications for metastasis in the TNM grading system

M0 or M1
either it has or hasn’t spread

the patient has been diagnosed with bowel cancer. The tumour has grown through the mucosa and into the muscular layer. There is no lymph node involvement and has not spread to other tissues Grade this according to TNM

T1-4 N0 M0

The patient has been diagnosed with right sided breast cancer. The tumour has spread to the skin and the chest wall. There are enlarged lymph nodes in the axilla. There is evidence that the cancer has spread to the bone. Grade this according to the TNM scale

T1-4 N1-2 M1

The patient has been diagnosed with liver cancer. The tumour is localized to a small area in the liver with no lymph node involvement and has not spread to other tissues Grade this according to the TNM scale

TIS N0 M0

What kind of cancer is surgery a good option for

Good for slow growing tumors

what is a debulking procedure

when they remove as much as possible of the tumor then they try to get the rest of it with chemo/radiation since that works better on smaller tumors

what is brachytherapy

when irradiated material is implanted into the tumor which created fewer side effects

typically what HgB level does a patient have to be at before they receive a transfusion

usually if HgB is less than 80 they will receive a transfusion

what is the number 1 complication from cancer treatment

infection

how does radiation or chemo cause fatigue

-Accumulation of metabolites/metabolic waste, -energy production might be low from anorexia, increased metabolic demand from the tumor, low HgB

how does radiation or chemo cause anorexia

Increased TNF and IL-1 are appetite suppressants

how does radiation or chemo affect the immune system and blood

-bone marrow suppression causes anemia and low WBC -also induces thrombocytopenia which can cause bleeding

how does radiation or chemo affect the resp system

can cause pneumonitis and fibrotic lungs

why is diarrhea such a common side effect of chemo or radiation

since the lining of the GI tract are very rapidly dividing cells so they are affected more by the radiation/chemo

how does radiation or chemo affect the cardiovascular system

can create dysrhythmias from changes in electrolytes

a patient with cancer develops thrombocytopenia. The nurse identifies which intervention is the highest priority in the nursing care plan

Monitor for signs of bleeding

what is superior vena cava syndrome

When the SVC become obstructed by a tumor

What are S&S of SVC syndrome

-Faial edema -Distention of veins in the neck and chest -Seizures -Headache

where does a tumor grow in spinal cord compression

Grows within the epidural space of the spinal cord

what are S&S of spinal cord compression

-Back pain that is intense, localized and persistent -vertebral tenderness that is made worse by the valsalva maneuver -motor and sensory dysfunction -autonomic dysfunction ie changes in bowel or bladder function

what is third space syndrome and what can cause it

shifting of fluid from the vascular space to the interstitial space and can be caused by extensive surgical procedures, biological therapy, or septic shock

what are signs and symptoms of third space syndrome

-Edema -Decreased blood pressure -Electrolyte changes ie increase in sodium

what is Syndrome of inappropriate ADH?

Some tumors can release ADH causing inappropriate amounts; chemo drugs can also cause the release of ADH

what are S&S of SIADH

-N/V -Seizures (from the imbalance of electros) -Hyponatremia (Since the blood is very dilute from the extra fluid)

what kind of cancer causes hypercalcemia

Cancer that involves the bone or if tumors start to secrete parathyroid like hormone

what are the signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia

-Depression -Muscle weakness -ECG changes -Anorexia -Constipation Don't Make Every Apple Cook *remember Ca does the opposite of its prefix so if it is Hyper- things will go down

what is tumor lysis syndrome and how long after chemo can it occur

When there is rapid destruction of a large number of tumor cells the high amount of byproducts from this process can be toxic to the body; usually occurs 24-48 hours after chemo is initiated

what are the four hallmark signs of Tumor lysis syndrome

-Hyperuricemia (uric acid is a byproduct of cell death) -Hyperphosphatemia -Hyperkalemia -hypocalcemia (because the excess phosphate binds to calcium in the blood)

What are early and late warning signs of septic shock

Early: Increased HR and Resp Rate Late: Decreased BP and end organ perfusion

What is disseminated intravascular coagulation and what kind of cancer can cause it?

Simultaneous bleeding and clotting and can be caused from liver cancer (since thats where clotting factors are produced)

what is cardiac tamponade

when there is to much fluid in the pericardial sac

how can cancer cause cardiac tamponade

if a tumor restricts the pericardium or pericarditis occurs secondary to radiation of the chest

in what kind of cancer patients is a carotid artery rupture most likely to occur

patients who have cancer of the head and neck or patients who have undergone surgery or radiation therapy where the carotid artery could have been damaged