Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Elder > Cancer > Flashcards

Cancer Flashcards

1
Q

What is cancer?

A

A group of diseases caused by uncontrolled division, growth, and spread of abnormal cells

Often referred to as “CA” in medical records.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the significance of cancer in the United States?

A

Second leading cause of death, with over 1.3 million diagnosed annually and 560,000 deaths each year

Incidence is higher in men, people over 65, and in industrialized nations.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the early warning signs of cancer according to the CAUTION acronym?

A

C: Change in bowel/bladder habits
A: A sore that does not heal
U: Unusual bleeding
T: Thickening or lump in the breast
I: Indigestion
O: Obvious change in warts
N: Nagging cough and hoarseness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the three levels of cancer prevention?

A
  • Primary: Reducing risk through health promotion
  • Secondary: Screening and early detection
  • Tertiary: Monitoring for recurrence and second malignancies
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the difference between benign and malignant tumors?

A
  • Benign: Do not metastasize, may not require removal
  • Malignant: Metastasize to other tissues, require treatment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does the T-N-M staging system stand for?

A
  • T: Tumor size
  • N: Node involvement
  • M: Metastasis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the goal of treatment in cancer care?

A
  • Cure: Patient free of disease
  • Control: Treatment to manage cancer
  • Palliation: Relief of symptoms and quality of life
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are common treatment modalities for cancer?

A
  • Surgery
  • Radiation
  • Chemotherapy
  • Biological response modifiers (BRM)
  • Alternative therapies
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is brachytherapy?

A

A form of internal radiation therapy where radioactive materials are implanted directly into the tumor or body cavity

Commonly used for prostate and gynecologic cancers.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are some side effects of radiation therapy?

A
  • Fatigue
  • Anorexia
  • Bone marrow suppression
  • Skin reactions
  • Pulmonary effects
  • Gastrointestinal effects
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Fill in the blank: Cancer cells are described as _______ due to their uncontrolled growth.

A

[malignant]

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What types of cancer are categorized as myeloplastic cancers?

A

Cancers of blood and lymph

Cannot be surgically resected.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the purpose of a biopsy in cancer diagnosis?

A

Definitive means of diagnosing cancer

Involves the removal of tissue for examination.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

True or False: Anorexia during cancer treatment is solely due to psychological factors.

A

False

It is a reaction to the treatment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the role of T cells in the body’s defense against tumors?

A

Cytotoxic T cells kill tumor cells

Part of the cellular immunity system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the grading system for tumors based on?

A

Pathologic classification that defines the type of tissue and the degree of differentiation

Ranges from Grade I (well differentiated) to Grade IV (poorly differentiated).

17
Q

What is the significance of the HPV vaccine Gardasil?

A

Recommended for girls aged 11 to 12 to prevent cervical cancer caused by HPV strains

Part of routine immunization.

18
Q

Fill in the blank: The term _______ refers to the excessive growth of cells.

A

[hyperplasia]

19
Q

What are the typical goals of chemotherapy?

A

Reduce the number of cancer cells in primary and metastatic tumor sites

Achieved through combination drug therapy.

20
Q

What are alkylating agents?

A

A class of chemotherapy drugs that includes Busulfan, Cisplatin, and Cyclophosphamide

Used to treat various types of cancer.

21
Q

What is 6-mercaptopurine?

A

A chemotherapy agent used in cancer treatment

It is a purine analog that interferes with DNA synthesis.

22
Q

Name two antitumor antibiotics.

A
  • Bleomycin
  • Dactinomycin

Antitumor antibiotics are used to treat various cancers by interrupting DNA synthesis.

23
Q

What are the effects of chemotherapy on normal tissues?

A

Chemotherapy agents cannot differentiate between normal and cancer cells

This leads to side effects when normal cells are destroyed.

24
Q

List the most common side effects of chemotherapy.

A
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Stomatitis
  • Diarrhea
  • Bone marrow suppression
  • Alopecia

These side effects are usually temporary.

25
Q

What is the purpose of antiemetics in chemotherapy?

A

To control nausea and vomiting

Commonly used medication is Zofran, though it may not work for everyone.

26
Q

Fill in the blank: The three types of bone marrow transplants are _____, _____, and _____.

A

[autologous], [syngeneic], [allogeneic]

Autologous uses the patient’s own stem cells, syngeneic uses identical twin’s stem cells, and allogeneic uses stem cells from a relative or unrelated donor.

27
Q

True or False: Protective isolation is important for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

A

True

It helps protect patients from infections due to compromised immune systems.

28
Q

What is the role of biologic response modifiers?

A

To bolster the patient’s immune system

Examples include interferons, interleukins, and monoclonal antibodies.

29
Q

What is Keytruda (pembrolizumab) used for?

A

It helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells

It is approved for various cancers including lung, head and neck, and Hodgkin lymphoma.

30
Q

What are the two methods for collecting donor stem cells?

A
  • Bone marrow harvest
  • Leukapheresis

Bone marrow harvest is a minor surgery, while leukapheresis involves separating stem cells from blood.

31
Q

What are alternative therapies in cancer management?

A

Spiritual, psychological, herbal, nutritional, and psychic approaches

The use of complementary or alternative therapies is growing.

32
Q

What factors predict how a patient will cope with cancer?

A
  • Ability to cope with stress
  • Spiritual well-being
  • Family and social support
  • Ability to express feelings
  • Body image disruption
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Financial resources
  • Overall attitude

These factors can significantly affect the patient’s coping mechanisms.

33
Q

What is the primary focus of hospice care?

A

To provide support and assistance for patients facing death

It aims to rehumanize the dying experience and manage pain effectively.

34
Q

What nursing diagnosis is associated with cancer management?

A
  • Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements
  • Altered oral mucous membranes
  • Fatigue
  • Ineffective coping
  • Body image disturbance
  • Altered family processes
  • Risk for infection
  • Risk for injury

These diagnoses address the multifaceted challenges of cancer care.

35
Q

What is the significance of monitoring WBC counts in chemotherapy patients?

A

To assess the risk of infection and the patient’s immune status

Low WBC counts can indicate a compromised immune system.

36
Q

Fill in the blank: In severe pain management, the first choice of medication is _____.

A

[Morphine]

Morphine is commonly used for severe pain in cancer patients.

37
Q

What should be avoided to manage bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia?

A
  • Frequent IM injections
  • IV catheterization
  • Rectal procedures
  • Hard toothbrushes
  • Sharp razors

These precautions help prevent unnecessary bleeding.

Elder (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions