Cancer Flashcards
warning signs of cancer (8)
Unusual bleeding or discharge anywhere Change in bowel or bladder habits Change in a wart or mole Sore that does not heal Unexplained weight loss Anemia, low hemoglobin, persistent fatigue Persistent cough or hoarseness without reason Solid lump, often painless, anywhere
“pencil stool” sign of…
rectal cancer
Increase in frequency of urination sign of…
ovarian cancer
Difficulty starting stream of urine sign of…
prostate cancer
what traits of a mole are concerning for melanoma?
red, white, blue - growth - irregularity in shape
almost all warts caused by…
HPV
why is a sore that won’t heal a sign of cancer?
cancer is taking the nutrients that would go toward healing the sore
risk factors for cancer (5)
oncogenes oncoviruses radiation chemicals biological factors - age, diet, hormones etc
____genes can cause cancer
onco
____viruses can cause cancer
onco
the risk of cancer c radiation exposure increases with…
cumulative dosages
risk reduction for cancer (4)
limit UV exposure
regular med/dental exams
self-exams
diet - fiber, reduced fats, fruits & veggies
all cells contain identical _____, but ________ makes cells specific to one function
DNA
differentiation
what are some characteristics of a neoplasm?
growth no longer responds to genetic controls
cells reproduce s need
deprives other cells of nutrients
atypical or immature cells
characteristics depend on type of cell from which it arises
“-oma” signifies a…
benign tumor
“-carcinoma” signifies a…
malignant tumor
“sarcoma” signifies a…
tumor of connective tissue
______ tumors are encapsulated, easy to remove, grow slowly, and may be more normal
benign
benign tumors cause damage by ________, especially in areas like…
compression
the brain
_______ tumors are not encapsulated, grow quickly, invade other areas, and very irregular
malignant
malignant tumors cause damage by _______
invasion
metastasis
parts of cancer break off and “seed” other parts of body
malignant tumors…
have altered \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ cells do not \_\_\_\_\_\_, allowing metastasis compress \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, causing necrosis may secrete \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ or \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ cause loss of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
have altered surface antigens cells do not adhere, allowing metastasis compress blood vessels, causing necrosis may secrete hormones or enzymes cause loss of normal cells
malignant tumors may secrete growth factors for ___________, allowing capillary development in the tumor
angiogenesis
local effects of malignant tumors (3)
pain
obstruction - blood supply, lymphatic flow, airflow, etc
tissue necrosis & ulceration
cancer pain may be absent until ________
later stages
systemic effects of malignant tumors (7)
cachexia anemia severe fatigue effusions infections bleeding paraneoplastic syndrome
cancers cause cachexia because…
they increase the demand for nutrients
leukemia in children may be diagnosed based on frequent ________
infections
paraneoplastic syndrome
tumors release substances that affect neurological function & may have hormonal effects
invasion vs metastasis
invasion - local spread
metastasis - spread to distant sites via blood, lymph, etc
compare stage 1 to stage 4
1: isolated, encapsulated, hasn’t spread
4: has metastasized to far distant body parts
______ system most used to determine cancer stage
what is the system?
TNM
T = size of primary tumor N = involvement of regional lymph nodes M = metastasis
essential for early detection of cancer
routine screenings
essential for detecting breast, testicular, and skin cancers
self-exam
Genomic Tumor Assessment identifies…
genetic mutations independent of heredity, but only occur within disease itself
cytological tests require…
biopsy/tissue sample
most dependable confirmation of malignancy
cytological test
when _______ immunity is “turned off”, you are more likely to develop cancer
cell-mediated
main cancer treatments
surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation
function of blocking agents
block receptors for growth promoters on cancer cells
function of biological response modifiers
augment natural immune response
function of angiogenesis inhibitors
inhibit stimulus for growth of blood vessels
function of analgesics
relieve pain
curative vs palliative care
curative: effort to cure cancer
palliative: effort to extend pt’s life without curing cancer
“cure” = ___ year survival s recurrence
5-year
cancers with poor prognoses are usually those diagnosed…
in their advanced stages
remission
no clinical signs of cancer
