Cancer

Question 1

What is cancer?

Answer 1

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

Often referred to as “CA” in medical records.

Question 2

What is the significance of cancer in the United States?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

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

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What are the three levels of cancer prevention?

Answer 4

• Primary: Reducing risk through health promotion
• Secondary: Screening and early detection
• Tertiary: Monitoring for recurrence and second malignancies

Question 5

What is the difference between benign and malignant tumors?

Answer 5

• Benign: Do not metastasize, may not require removal
• Malignant: Metastasize to other tissues, require treatment

Question 6

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

Answer 6

• T: Tumor size
• N: Node involvement
• M: Metastasis

Question 7

What is the goal of treatment in cancer care?

Answer 7

• Cure: Patient free of disease
• Control: Treatment to manage cancer
• Palliation: Relief of symptoms and quality of life

Question 8

What are common treatment modalities for cancer?

Answer 8

• Surgery
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy
• Biological response modifiers (BRM)
• Alternative therapies

Question 9

What is brachytherapy?

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

What are some side effects of radiation therapy?

Answer 10

• Fatigue
• Anorexia
• Bone marrow suppression
• Skin reactions
• Pulmonary effects
• Gastrointestinal effects

Question 11

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

Answer 11

[malignant]

Question 12

What types of cancer are categorized as myeloplastic cancers?

Answer 12

Cancers of blood and lymph

Cannot be surgically resected.

Question 13

What is the purpose of a biopsy in cancer diagnosis?

Answer 13

Definitive means of diagnosing cancer

Involves the removal of tissue for examination.

Question 14

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

Answer 14

False

It is a reaction to the treatment.

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Cytotoxic T cells kill tumor cells

Part of the cellular immunity system.

Question 16

What is the grading system for tumors based on?

Answer 16

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

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

Question 17

What is the significance of the HPV vaccine Gardasil?

Answer 17

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

Part of routine immunization.

Question 18

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

Answer 18

[hyperplasia]

Question 19

What are the typical goals of chemotherapy?

Answer 19

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

Achieved through combination drug therapy.

Question 20

What are alkylating agents?

Answer 20

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

Used to treat various types of cancer.

Question 21

What is 6-mercaptopurine?

Answer 21

A chemotherapy agent used in cancer treatment

It is a purine analog that interferes with DNA synthesis.

Question 22

Name two antitumor antibiotics.

Answer 22

• Bleomycin
• Dactinomycin

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

Question 23

What are the effects of chemotherapy on normal tissues?

Answer 23

Chemotherapy agents cannot differentiate between normal and cancer cells

This leads to side effects when normal cells are destroyed.

Question 24

List the most common side effects of chemotherapy.

Answer 24

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

These side effects are usually temporary.

Question 25

What is the purpose of antiemetics in chemotherapy?

Answer 25

To control nausea and vomiting ## Footnote Commonly used medication is Zofran, though it may not work for everyone.

Question 26

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

Answer 26

[autologous], [syngeneic], [allogeneic] ## Footnote 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.

Question 27

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

Answer 27

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

Question 28

What is the role of biologic response modifiers?

Answer 28

To bolster the patient's immune system ## Footnote Examples include interferons, interleukins, and monoclonal antibodies.

Question 29

What is Keytruda (pembrolizumab) used for?

Answer 29

It helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells ## Footnote It is approved for various cancers including lung, head and neck, and Hodgkin lymphoma.

Question 30

What are the two methods for collecting donor stem cells?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

What are alternative therapies in cancer management?

Answer 31

Spiritual, psychological, herbal, nutritional, and psychic approaches ## Footnote The use of complementary or alternative therapies is growing.

Question 32

What factors predict how a patient will cope with cancer?

Answer 32

* 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 ## Footnote These factors can significantly affect the patient's coping mechanisms.

Question 33

What is the primary focus of hospice care?

Answer 33

To provide support and assistance for patients facing death ## Footnote It aims to rehumanize the dying experience and manage pain effectively.

Question 34

What nursing diagnosis is associated with cancer management?

Answer 34

* 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 ## Footnote These diagnoses address the multifaceted challenges of cancer care.

Question 35

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

Answer 35

To assess the risk of infection and the patient's immune status ## Footnote Low WBC counts can indicate a compromised immune system.

Question 36

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

Answer 36

[Morphine] ## Footnote Morphine is commonly used for severe pain in cancer patients.

Question 37

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

Answer 37

* Frequent IM injections * IV catheterization * Rectal procedures * Hard toothbrushes * Sharp razors ## Footnote These precautions help prevent unnecessary bleeding.