Anti Cancer Treatments Flashcards
What is the rationale of chemotherapy?
To kill cancer cells off but avoid damage to healthy cells. Cancer cells tend to regenerate more slowly than normal body cells so by the time the next cycle comes around the population is decreased.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
Hair loss Skin changes Gi disturbance- diarrhoea and vomiting Bone marrow suppression Some have specific side effects- lung and cardiac toxicity
What is the rationale for radiotherapy?
Using high energy ionising radiation to treat malignant disease
What types of radiotherapy are available?
External beam
Brachytherapy
Systemic treatment
What are radiosensitisers?
Chemotherapy agents which when combined with radiotherapy have a greater effect
What are the short term effects of radiotherapy?
Specific to area of irradiation- Hairloss/ erythema Dysphagia/sore throat Diarrhoea Sterility Dysuria Radiation cystitis Nausea and vomiting Decreased blood counts Tiredness Moist desquamation Lymphoedema
What are the long term effects of radiotherapy?
Skin pigmentation Telangiectasia Necrosis Xerostomia Paralysis Bowel strictures Sterility Cataracts Loss of sight Bone growth Necrosis of bone
What is the rationale of hormone therapy?
Some cancer cells grow and divide in response to hormones. Therefore therapy can be given to block the hormones so stop the cancer growing
What are some examples of hormone therapy?
Tamoxifen
LHRH agonists/ antagonists
What are some side effects of hormone therapy?
Menopausal symptoms in women- constipation, hair loss, hot flushes, thrombosis, fatigue
Urinary and sexual dysfunction
Gynaecomastia
How does immunotherapy work in a broad sense?
Helps T cells to recognise cancer cells
Eg PD-1, PD L1 inhibitors- pembrolizumab
What are the side effects of immunotherapy?
Symptoms of inflammation anywhere in the body
Neuro- sensory alteration, parasthaesia, weakness
Endocrine- hypophysitis, hypopituitarism, adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism
Skin- pruritus, dry skin, dermatitis
GI- diarrhoea, abdo pain, blood or mucus in stool, bowel perforation, immune related hepatitis
What are the late effects of chemotherapy?
Secondary cancers Sterility Susceptibility to infection Fatigue Heart/ lung damage
What are the late effects of radiotherapy?
Skin pigmentation Paralysis Bowel strictures/ adhesions Loss of sight Sterility
What is the rationale for surgery in treating cancer?
To remove the primary tumour in its entirety
Aims to cure the cancer
