Cancer

Question 1

What is cancer?

Answer 1

= caused by mutation of cellular genes that control cell growth and cell mitosis
- abnormal gene is called oncogenes

Question 2

What are the two types of staging for cancer?

Answer 2

TNM (Tumour-node-metastasis)
- T = characteristics of tumour (size, depth of invasion)
- N = Presence or absence of involved Nodes and number involved
- M = Presence or absence of metastasis
Ann Arbor System (stage I-IV)
- Stage I = disease confined to organ.
- Stage IV = Metastatic disease

Question 3

Chemotherapy?

Answer 3

• interferes with the cell cycle - specifically in the synthesis of DNA and replication of tumour cells
• 5 stages

Question 4

What are the major side effects of chemotherapy?

Answer 4

• Blood clotting problems
• oral issues - ice cooling
• N & V - anti emetics
• Diarrhoea - drink fluids
• Constipation - high fibre, laxatives
• Fatigue - prevention, sleep pattern, exercise
• hair loss - scalp cooling
• fertility - put menopause early