Cancer Flashcards
What is cancer?
A group of diseases caused by uncontrolled division, growth, and spread of abnormal cells
Often referred to as “CA” in medical records.
What is the significance of cancer in the United States?
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.
What are the early warning signs of cancer according to the CAUTION acronym?
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
What are the three levels of cancer prevention?
- Primary: Reducing risk through health promotion
- Secondary: Screening and early detection
- Tertiary: Monitoring for recurrence and second malignancies
What is the difference between benign and malignant tumors?
- Benign: Do not metastasize, may not require removal
- Malignant: Metastasize to other tissues, require treatment
What does the T-N-M staging system stand for?
- T: Tumor size
- N: Node involvement
- M: Metastasis
What is the goal of treatment in cancer care?
- Cure: Patient free of disease
- Control: Treatment to manage cancer
- Palliation: Relief of symptoms and quality of life
What are common treatment modalities for cancer?
- Surgery
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
- Biological response modifiers (BRM)
- Alternative therapies
What is brachytherapy?
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.
What are some side effects of radiation therapy?
- Fatigue
- Anorexia
- Bone marrow suppression
- Skin reactions
- Pulmonary effects
- Gastrointestinal effects
Fill in the blank: Cancer cells are described as _______ due to their uncontrolled growth.
[malignant]
What types of cancer are categorized as myeloplastic cancers?
Cancers of blood and lymph
Cannot be surgically resected.
What is the purpose of a biopsy in cancer diagnosis?
Definitive means of diagnosing cancer
Involves the removal of tissue for examination.
True or False: Anorexia during cancer treatment is solely due to psychological factors.
False
It is a reaction to the treatment.
What is the role of T cells in the body’s defense against tumors?
Cytotoxic T cells kill tumor cells
Part of the cellular immunity system.
What is the grading system for tumors based on?
Pathologic classification that defines the type of tissue and the degree of differentiation
Ranges from Grade I (well differentiated) to Grade IV (poorly differentiated).
What is the significance of the HPV vaccine Gardasil?
Recommended for girls aged 11 to 12 to prevent cervical cancer caused by HPV strains
Part of routine immunization.
Fill in the blank: The term _______ refers to the excessive growth of cells.
[hyperplasia]
What are the typical goals of chemotherapy?
Reduce the number of cancer cells in primary and metastatic tumor sites
Achieved through combination drug therapy.
What are alkylating agents?
A class of chemotherapy drugs that includes Busulfan, Cisplatin, and Cyclophosphamide
Used to treat various types of cancer.
What is 6-mercaptopurine?
A chemotherapy agent used in cancer treatment
It is a purine analog that interferes with DNA synthesis.
Name two antitumor antibiotics.
- Bleomycin
- Dactinomycin
Antitumor antibiotics are used to treat various cancers by interrupting DNA synthesis.
What are the effects of chemotherapy on normal tissues?
Chemotherapy agents cannot differentiate between normal and cancer cells
This leads to side effects when normal cells are destroyed.
List the most common side effects of chemotherapy.
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Stomatitis
- Diarrhea
- Bone marrow suppression
- Alopecia
These side effects are usually temporary.