cancer Flashcards
what is the most common type of cancer in women
Breast
what is the most common type of cancer in men
prostate
what are the 5 changes that can occur to allow cancer to grow and spread
- uncontrolled cell growth
- loss of natural apoptosis
- decreased cellular differentiation
- ability to invade surrounding tissue
- ability to establish in atypical environments
what mutations cause genetic instability in cancer
- overexpression of oncogenes
- faulty tumour supressor genes
- chemicals/ free radicals and other carcinogens can cause genetic instability
- viruses and bacteria can also cause cancer e.g HPV in cervical cancer or h.pylori in stomach cancer
what does epigenetics mean
changing the activity of genes by altering how compact or relaxed the DNA is.
e.g methlylation= dna more compact so reduced gene expression
what are liable cells
cells where tumours frequently occur because they continually go through the cell cycle and mutations usually occur during the S phase of the cell cycle
what are stable cells
cells which typically inhibit the G0 phase of the cell cycle but can be stimulated to enter into cell division
what is histopathology
a microscopic examination of tissue (a biopsy) which finds out what type of cancer it is
what is a low grade cancer
cancer where cells look more like normal cells. They are slower growing
what is a high grade cancer
cancer where cells look less like normal cells. They grow very quickly
what are the 3 ways in which metastasis can occur
- direct invasion
- through the lymphatic system
- through the blood stream
what are the generic symptoms/presentation of cancer
- lumps
- unexplained bleeding
- weight loss
what are the 4 ways in which cancer can be diagnosed
- x-ray
- biopsy
- biomarkers
- CT/ PET scan
when would surgery be used during cancer treatment
- to remove primary tumour
- during palliative care (to remove symptoms of metastasis/ incurable disease)
- together with other treatment
when would radiotherapy be used during cancer treatment
- Neoadjuvant ( to reduce tumour before surgery)
- Adjuvant (with surgery and or chemotherapy)
- Palliative (to relieve symptoms of metastasis or incurable disease)
what is the aim of radical radiotherapy
to cure cancer
Name some types of radiotherapy
- x-ray, electron, proton
- stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
- Total body irradiation (TBI)
- liquid radioiodine (you ingest this)
- Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT. radiation injected into veins)
- Intracavity (inserted into body cavity)
- insterstital (permanentyl inserting a radiocative source into a tumour)
what are the typical side effects of radiotherapy
- alopecia
- nausea + vomiting
- skin reactions
- indigestion
- bladder/bowel changes
- fibrosis
- breathlessness
why does radiation cause side effects
because radiation is not selective so often affects other healthy/ non-cancerous cells
how do you manage skin reactions caused as a side effect of radiotherapy
treatment depends on how severe the skin reactions ( red, dry, itchy are)
grade 1: moisturiser
grade 2-: moisturiser +hydrocortisone
grade 3: moisturiser and dressings. stop hydrocortisone if skin is broken
grade 4: consult team
how do you manage mucositis and other oral side effects of radiotherapy
- good oral hygiene: soft toothbrush, brush twice daily, don’t smoke, stay hydrated
- can also use sodium chloride or sodium bicarbonate
how do you manage nausea and vomiting as a side effect of radiotherapy
how you manage nausea + vomiting depends on the site of radiotherapy.
- High risk radiotherapy: use 5-HT3 receptor anatagonist 24 hours before and after radiotherapy
- moderate risk: use ondansetron STAT or metoclopramide
- low risk: no prophylaxis
what are the 4 systemic anti-cancer therapies
- cytotoxic chemotherapy e.g capecitabine
- targeted agents (e.g getfitnib, cetuximab)
- immunotherapy (nivolumab)
- CART-T (chimeric antigen receptor t-cell)
what are the general side effects of chemotherapy
- nausea + vomiting
- Mucositis (also known as stomatitis)
- GI disturbance (constipation or diarrhoea)
- Peripheral neuropathy (damage to nerves)
- Alopecia
- Fatigue
