Cancer Flashcards
There are so many different types of cancer that can…
affect a person’s ability to perform occupational tasks at their desired level.
In general, cancer is…
An abnormal growth of cells that can occur anywhere in the body and impact the overall function of a person and their immune system.
Not only does the cancer have an effect on a person’s occupational performance, but often…
The resulting management of cancer through medication treatments or surgical treatments also produces negative occupational impacts.
As occupational therapists, we are able to work with people who have cancer or who are…
Suffering from side effects of cancer treatment to help them engage in their daily lives.
Primary Forms of Cancer
- Carcinoma
- Sarcoma
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Myeloma
- Mixed Types
Prevalence
- In 2016, an estimated 1,685,210 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the US and 595,690 will die from the disease.
- Number of people living beyond a cancer diagnosis is approximately 14. 5 million and expected to rise to 19 million by 2024.
Most Common Cancers
- Breast Cancer
- Lung
- Prostate
- Colon/Rectum
- Melanoma
- Thyroid
- Kidney
- Pelvis
- Leukemia
- Endometria
- Non-Hogkins Lymphoma
- Pacreatic
Cancer
A chronic disease impacting quality of life.
The course and prognosis of cancer depend on several variables:
- Type of cancer
- Location of cancer
- Stage of cancer
- Age and health of client
- Response to treatment
Common Diagnostics of Cancer
- Pet Scan
- CAT Scan
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- Biopsies
- Genetic Testing (ex. BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2 are inheritable genes with a mutation that significantly increases risk or breast cancer in women)
Cancer Treatments
- Surgical removal
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Hormone Therapy
- Stem cell transplants
- Rehabilitation
Surgical removal (Cancer Treatments)
of cells/tumors
Radiation therapy (Cancer Treatments)
Aimed at eliminating and reducing size of tumors
Chemotherapy (Cancer Treatments)
Aimed at reducing cancer cells through pharmacological agents
Immunotherapy (Cancer Treatments)
Focused on strengthening a person’s immune system
Hormone Therapy (Cancer Treatments)
To slow or stop cancer cell growth
Stem Cell Transplants (Cancer Treatments)
To restore blood forming cells destroyed by high dose chemotherapy or radiation
Rehabilitation Designed (Cancer Treatments)
To improve quality of life and functional well-being.
OT Areas of Practice
- Inpatient Hospital Center
- Outpatient Centers
- Home Health
- Long Term Facilities
- Skilled Nursing Facilities
The role of OT in Oncology
“to facilitate and enable an individual patient to achieve maximum functional performance, both physically and psychologically in everyday living skills regardless of his or her life expectancy”
Due to the uniqueness and complexity of human occupation, each individual diagnosed with cancer will experience…
Different limitations in his or her various occupations/roles and restrictions in participation throughout the course of the disease, based on lifestyle choices.
Continuum of Care & OT Role (cancer)
The role of OT is dependent on when the patient is referred to therapy.
- The over-arching goal for therapy is to optimize function and quality of life.
- OT’s can serve in the role of educator, consultant, or clinician based on acuity of illness and stage of recovery
- Goals are focused on addressing performance barriers to enable the resumption of client roles, routines and rituals.
- Preventative
- Active Treatment
- Post Treatment
- Palliative Care
Stage of Care: Prevention
-OT Educator Role: Education client
Risk, weight loss, exercise, healthy behaviors
-OT Consultant Role: Individual or group consulting to promote healthy habits
-OT Clinical Role: Early Detection
-Possible Assessment: Screenings
Stage of Care: Diagnosed with Active Care
-OT Educator Role: Education focuses
potential need for rehab throughout the continuum and education of disease manifestations
-OT Clinical Role: Assessment, Intervention, Planning, Outcomes
-Possible Assessment: Fatigue Impact Scale, Beck Depression Scale, Role Checklist, DASH, Lymphedema, FIM
Undergoing Treatment (Rehab across the continuum)
OT Role: Fatigue, pain
ADL, IADL, falls, ROM, sensation, symptom management
Survivorship (Rehab across the continuum)
OT Role: Return to habits, roles, routines and rituals
Palliative (Rehab across the continuum)
OT Role: Optimize comfort
Integrate Frames of References (Rehab across the continuum)
- MOHO
- Lifestyle redesign
- Occupational Adaptation
- Psychosocial
- Spiritual
- Cognitive
- Biomechanical
- Sensory
OT Services
- Develop Occupational Profile
- Analysis of Performance
- Assessments
- Determine OT role (dependent on setting and stage of recovery)
- Intervention plan
- Outcomes
Inpatient (OT Role Across Settings- Cancer)
Resumption of Safety with ADLS, adaptive strategies
Skilled Nursing (OT Role Across Settings- Cancer)
Resumption of Safety with ADLs, return to home
Outpatient (OT Role Across Settings- Cancer)
Adaptation with IADLS, community, return to work
Community-Based (OT Role Across Settings- Cancer)
Lifestyle redesign, strengthening for full independence work, leisure, roles, routines and rituals
Common Symptoms of Cancer
- Generalized weakness
- Fatigue
- Anorexia
- Depression
- Pain
- Insomnia
- Fear
- Decreased energy
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Dyspnea
- Confusion
- Decreased ROM
- Cognitive deficits
- Falls
- Inability to work
- Decreased ADLs/IADL’s
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Lymphedema
- Altered body image
- Poor self-esteem
