Cancer Flashcards
Lymphedema
a buildup of lymph fluid in the fatty tissues under the skin that causes swelling; it is often a sequela to surgery and/or radiation that involves one or more lymph nodes and remains a lifetime risk for people living with cancer.
Metastasis
occurs when cancer cells migrate into the bloodstream or lymph system, travel to other parts of the body, and form new tumors.
Palliative care:
an approach that aims to improve quality of life for families and patients facing life-threatening illness. It provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms, support to help patients live as actively as possible, and coping and bereavement assistance.
Peripheral neuropathy:
refers to numbness, tingling, and/or pain caused by nerve damage.
Survivorship:
the cancer journey phase that begins as patients complete medical treatment and continues throughout the remainder of the patients’ lives.
Cancer survivors face long-term side effects and health risks as a result of
both treatment and ongoing fear of recurrence.These challenges may interfere with activity and role performance, necessitating the services of occupational therapists.
The term cancer refers to a
group of diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control, can invade nearby tissues, and travel through the blood and lymph systems to other body parts.
Staging is the process of
determining the severity of a person’s cancer based on the degree to which a cancer has spread4
Common elements in most staging systems consider
the primary tumor site, tumor size and number, spread into lymph nodes, and the presence or absence of metastasis
Stage 0
Abnormal cells are present but have not spread to other tissues. This stage is typically highly curable.
Stage I
Cancer that is the next least advanced; patients often have good prognosis. This is referred to as early-stage cancer because a small cancer or tumor hasn’t spread to lymph nodes or other body parts.
Stage II-III
Cancer involving more extensive disease as indicated by greater tumor size and/or cancer spread to nearby lymph nodes, but not to other body parts.
Stage IV
Cancer that has spread to other organs or body parts. This is referred to as advanced or metastatic cancer.
Problems that may interfere with occupational performance with - Breast Cancer
weakness, fatigue, body image issues, pain, lymphedema, limited ROM, brachial plexus injury, cognitive inneficiencies
Problems that may interfere with occupational performance with - lung Cancer
fatigue, dyspnea, weakness, limited ROM, limited endurance
Problems that may interfere with occupational performance with - Brain Cancer
cognitive problems, impaired vision and balance, decreased sensation, dysphasia, hemiparesis, impaired coordination, personality changes
Problems that may interfere with occupational performance with - Sarcoma
Possible amputation or issues associated with limb salvage, body image issues, peripheral neuropathy, pain, fatigue, edema
Problems that may interfere with occupational performance with - colorectal
Gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea, constipation, incontinence, bowel obstruction), physical and psychosocial challenges associated with managing an ostomy
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF)
defined as an upsetting and enduring sense of physical, emotional, and/or cognitive exhaustion that impedes functioning and is inconsistent with recent activity levels.
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) involves what concurrent symptoms.
CRF involves concurrent symptoms such as pain, stress, low red blood cell count, and difficulty sleeping.
What does the The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends for cancer related fatigue
referral to occupational therapy for nonpharmacological CRF intervention.
What is cancer-related cognitive dysfunction (CRCD; sometimes called chemobrain)?
CRCD involves mild but disruptive changes in memory, executive functions, attention, and processing speed
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)
describes sensory impairment of the peripheral nerves caused by neurotoxicity associated with many commonly used chemotherapy drugs.
proto-oncogene is a
normal gene that has the potential to become more active or mutate into a cancer-causing oncogene.
Oncogenes allow
cells to grow and survive when they normally would not.
Benign tumors
do not spread into or invade nearby tissues, although they can still cause damage to the body.
Malignant tumors can
destroy normal cells and invade other tissues. As a tumor grows, some cancer cells can break off, traveling in the bloodstream or the lymphatic system to other body parts.
metastasis
When cancer cells can break off, traveling in the bloodstream or the lymphatic system to other body parts. This process is known as
Hyperplasia
occurs when cells divide faster than normal, and there is a buildup of extra cells or an increase in cell mass.
Intrinsic risk factors are those over which the individual has
no control
Dysplasia is
a buildup of cells that appear abnormal microscopically, and there are differences from normal cells noted in cell organization, size, and shape.
extrinsic risk factors may be
modifiable and and thus preventable.
examples of intrinsic risk factors for cancer
age, heredity, hormones, immune system competence, and metabolic abnormalities.
Five main categories of cancer In situ:
In Situ, localized, regional, distant, unknown
In situ:
Abnormal cells are present only in the layer of cells in which they developed.
