9C: Cancer Treatment Flashcards
What proportion of cancer deaths can be prevented by health lifestyles and screening?
50%
What diet changes can prevent cancer?
- Decreased fat, salt, sugar
- Increase antioxidant, fruits, veggies, green tea
What methods are used for cancer diagnosis?
- Imaging
- Biopsy
- Tumor markers, blood test
- Mammogram
- PET
- Genetic testing for BRCA
What is the BRCA gene?
Marker for genetic pre-disposition to develop breast cancer. Increased risk from 7% to >50%
What is curative surgery?
Removing tumor or cancer cells
What is palliative surgery?
Surgery on another area for pain relief
Why will they do radiation prior to surgery?
Shrink the tissue, ensure death of surrounding cancer cells
Describe radiation
Kills dividing cancer cells to decrease cell count and stop new production
Why is radiation done over the course of several weeks?
Hit cells at multiple points in the cell development cycle
What is done for external radiation?
Mapping to direct the radiation to the exact tissue spot
What are the adverse effects of radiation?
Nausea, fatigue, sweating, chills, depression in bone barrow, itchy red skin
Describe chemotherapy
Chemical agents that attack cancer cells by affecting DNA synthesis during the growth phase
What types of cancer will chemo likely be used for?
Widespread or metastatic
What are methods of chemo delivery?
Orally, subcutaneously, IM, IV, intrathecal, arterial infusion
What are the adverse effects of chemo?
- Chemo brain
- Nausea
- Hair loss
- Bone marrow decrease
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
