Cancer Care Flashcards
What is cancer?
When abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way
Where to most cancers start?
A particular organ (primary site)
Carcinoma definition
Begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs
Sarcome definition
Begins in bone, fate, muscle, blood vessel or other supportive or connective tissue
Causes of cancer
Tobacco smoking Alcohol consumption Diet Obesity Physical inactivity UV radiation
Estimated number of new cancer cases diagnosed in 2018
138000
2 types of treatment modalities
Localised therapy
Systemic Therapy
Localised therapy
Exact area - more specific
- surgery
- radiation therapy
Systemic therapy
Whole body - side effects are generalised
- chemotherapy
- hormonal therapy
- biological therapy
Radiation therapy
Allows healthy cells to regrow faster and manage the cancer
- uses radiation to destroy cancer cells (also damages normal cells, but cancer cells are more sensitive to its effects)
Radiation therapy implementation
Total dose of radiation is divided into smaller doses called fractions
One fraction is given each day over several days until the total dose is reached
Can be given externally or internally
Radiation therapy side effects
Fatigue
Skin reaction
Chemotherapy
Kills cells that are rapidly dividing (such as cancer cells) - also kills normal cells that are rapidly dividing; normal cells can repair the damage and recover
Chemotherapy implementation
usually given orally or intravenously in multiple courses for a set amount of time
Cycles allow time for the healthy cells to recover between treatments
Chemotherapy side effect
Fatigue Nausea Pain or soreness Changes to skin Diarrhoea Weight gain or loss Hair loss Changes to libido Emotional changes
Immunotherapy
Uses certain parts of a person’s immune system to fight cancer
- slows the growth and spread of cancer cells and helps the immune system destroy existing cancer cells
Immunotherapy side effects
Fever Weakness Chills Dizziness Headache Nausea Muscle of joint ache
Hormone therapy
Slows or stops the growth of cancer that uses hormones to grow (Breast and prostate cancers feed off of a hormonal environment
Can either block the body’s ability to produce hormones or interfere with how hormones behave
Hormone therapy side effects
How flashes Loss of libido Weakened bones Vaginal dryness Nausea
Survivorship
Provides a focus on the health and wellbeing of a person living with and beyond cancer
Some reactions to survivorship
I appreciate life more
I have greater self-acceptance
I feel more anxious about my health
I don’t know how to cope now that treatment is over
OT role in cancer treatment
Determining individual's circumstances The type and stage of cancer and side effects Diagnosis Treatment Rehab Survivorship Palliative care
Physical symptom management examples
Lymphoedema management Breathlessness edu Sleep problem reduction Pressure care Retraining in ADL Environment modification
Cancer related fatigue management
Activity modification Improving nutrition Rest Enjoyable activities Sleep therapy
Psychosocial care
Stress management
Relaxation training
Spiritual support
Supportive counselling
