Week 1: Oncology Nursing

Question 1

What is Cancer?

Answer 1

diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues

Question 2

What are the steps of the metastatic cascade?

Answer 2

Tumour initiation
Progression
Proliferation
Angiogenesis
Invasion / Intravasation
Extravasation
Colony Formation
Evasion of host defenses

Question 3

What is Intravasation and extravasation?

Answer 3

The ability for cancer cells to enter and leave the circulatory and lymphatic system

Question 4

What is angiogenesis?

Answer 4

The formation of new blood vessels

Question 5

What cancers is HPV responsible for?

Answer 5

Vaginal, cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal

Question 6

What are the 4 phases of the cell cycle?

Answer 6

1. Gap 1 (G1)
2. Synthesis (S)
3. Gap 2 (G2)
4. Mitosis (M)
   (sometimes) 5. Go (Resting phase)

Question 7

What are proto-oncogenes?

Answer 7

Proto-oncogenes are the normal growth promoting genes (Growth factor, Cell survival genes, Cell cycle controlling genes)

Question 8

What are oncogenes?

Answer 8

The mutated form of proto-oncogenes. (Proto-oncogenes become oncogenes when inappropriately activated by mutations in themselves or other genes normally
controlling their function)

Question 9

What are the 4 mediators of cell growth?

Answer 9

1. 1PDGF - Platelet-derived growth factor is one of the numerous
   proteins that regulate cell growth and division
2. EGF - Epidermal Growth Factor is a protein with 53 amino acid residues and three intramolecular disulfide bonds. It plays an important
   role in the regulation of cell growth and proliferation
3. TGF – Transforming Growth Factor plays crucial roles in tissue development, cell differentiation, and embryonic development, as well as numerous other signaling pathways.
4. VEGF - Vascular endothelial growth factor is an important signal protein involved in angiogenesis.

Question 10

Describe the tumor suppressor gene

Answer 10

The p53 gene - he ‘gatekeeper’ gene that prevents cells that should not be dividing from entering
the cell cycle. p53 functions by halting the cell cycle in the G1 phase, allowing DNA repair genes to correct mistakes in DNA copying. If mistakes cannot be corrected, p53 induces apoptosis. When p53 is mutated, cells are able to replicate without repairing DNA damage, resulting in uncontrolled abnormal
cell growth

Question 11

Describe the TNM staging system

Answer 11

T - tumor (size and extent of primary tumor)
N - nodes (number of nearby lymph nodes that contain cancer/cells
M - metastasis (spread to other sites and organs)

Question 12

List modifiable risk factors for cancer

Answer 12

• quit smoking, limit alcohol
• eat for health
• maintain a healthy body weight
• be sun smart

Question 13

What is Leukemia?

Answer 13

Malignant cancer which affects stem cells in the bone marrow; affects red and white blood cells and produces increased numbers of immature or abnormal leukocytes.

Question 14

What is Sarcoma?

Answer 14

A type of cancer that begins in bone or in the soft tissues of the body (inc. cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, fibrous tissue, or other connective or supportive tissue).

Question 15

What is a carcinoma?

Answer 15

A tumor derived from epithelial cells (cells that line the surface of our skin and organs)

Question 16

What is Lymphoma?

Answer 16

Cancer arising from the lymphatic system affects the white blood cells of the immunity system

Question 17

What is Myeloma?

Answer 17

Cancer occurs when abnormal plasma cells of the bone marrow grow in
an uncontrolled way affecting the white blood cells responsible for the production
of antibodies (B lymphocytes or B-cells)

Question 18

What is Mesothelioma?

Answer 18

when abnormal cells in
the tissue that surrounds the lungs grow in an uncontrolled way

Question 19

List and describe