3-17: Cancer Flashcards
Describe the cellular mechanism underlying cancer.
All cancers result from a DNA dysfunction that causes excessively rapid cell growth.
Identify common risk factors for cancer.
Risk factors include: a family history of cancer, ethnicity (e.g., Hispanics have a lower risk of lung cancer and a higher risk of cervical cancer than other groups), diet (high fats, alcohol, and certain food additives like nitrites), infections (human papillomavirus –HPV—is linked to cervical cancer and heliobactor pylori is linked to stomach cancer), SES, and marital status.
Discuss the link between stress and cancer.
Stress affects the progression of cancer. Animals exposed to crowding show higher cancer rates. So do humans with low levels of social support.
List the common side effects of chemotherapy.
Patients undergoing chemotherapy may expect and experience debilitating nausea and vomiting and may develop anticipatory nausea that occurs even before the chemotherapy session begins.
Describe the effects of social support on cancer patients.
Social support improves psychological adjustment to cancer, and it can help patients deal with intrusive thoughts and rumination about the cancer. Support may improve immunologic responses to cancer as well. Married patients with cancers have significantly better survival than single, separated, divorce, or widowed patients. How spouses provide support matters. Engaging in conversations with the patient about the cancer and finding constructive methods for solving problems can be beneficial, whereas hiding one’s concerns and overprotecting the patient are less beneficial.
Explain how cancer can impair sexual relationships.
Cancer can impair sexual relationships by introducing body image concerns (e.g., in mastectomy patients); sexual function can be impaired by treatments such as chemotherapy or by depression and anxiety; and dysfunction is common among patients with prostate and gynecological cancers.
List five patterns of coping with cancer and indicate their relative effectiveness.
- Seeking or using social support
- Focusing on the positive
- Distancing—going on as if nothing had happened
- Cognitive escape-avoidance—denying or suppressing thoughts about one’s situation
- Behavioral escape-avoidance—engaging in distracting behaviors (e.g., heavy drinking)
Coping through social support, focusing on the positive, and distancing are all associated with less emotional distress from cancer, in comparison to cognitive and behavioral escape-avoidance.
Identify a benefit of cancer reported by some patients.
Some cancer patients report that their lives have been made better in important ways by the cancer experience, permitting them to experience growth and satisfaction in personal relationships that they might not otherwise have achieved. The ability to find benefits in the cancer experience predicts lower distress and depression years later.
Name four issues addressed by pharmacological interventions.
- The nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy
- Anorexia and other eating difficulties
- Emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety
- Pain
Indicate which drugs address each of these issues (drugs shown next to the issue for which they are prescribed).
- The nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy–marijuana, thorazine, and valium
- Anorexia and other eating difficulties—dietary supplements
- Emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety—antidepressants and anxiolytics
- Pain—morphine and methadone
List the benefits of mindfulness-based stress reduction interventions.
Mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques, which involve the active cultivation of conscious awareness through relaxation, meditation, and yoga, have been shown to reduce stress and improve immune function
Cite evidence that distraction can be successful in treating children undergoing chemotherapy.
Children who are allowed to play video games during chemotherapy experience less nausea and anxiety.
Identify the common issues arising in individual therapy and family therapy with cancer patients.
The most common issues arising in individual therapy are fear of recurrence, pain, or death; fear of organ loss; interference of the disease with valued activities; practical problems such as job discrimination and relationship problems; and communication problems with friends and family.
Patients seeking family therapy are dealing with problems with their children, role changes, increased dependency on others, and sexual dysfunction.
Describe the type of cancer patient who is most likely to benefit from social support groups.
Support groups are most helpful to women, as well as patients who have more serious problems, less support and fewer resources.
Cite an unanticipated health benefit of support groups for cancer patients.
Support group members live longer by an average of 18 months compared to cancer patients who do not participate in such groups.
