Cancer Care

Question 1

What is cancer?

Answer 1

When abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way

Question 2

Where to most cancers start?

Answer 2

A particular organ (primary site)

Question 3

Carcinoma definition

Answer 3

Begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs

Question 4

Sarcome definition

Answer 4

Begins in bone, fate, muscle, blood vessel or other supportive or connective tissue

Question 5

Causes of cancer

Answer 5

Tobacco smoking 
Alcohol consumption 
Diet 
Obesity 
Physical inactivity 
UV radiation

Question 6

Estimated number of new cancer cases diagnosed in 2018

Answer 6

138000

Question 7

2 types of treatment modalities

Answer 7

Localised therapy

Systemic Therapy

Question 8

Localised therapy

Answer 8

Exact area - more specific

• surgery
• radiation therapy

Question 9

Systemic therapy

Answer 9

Whole body - side effects are generalised

• chemotherapy
• hormonal therapy
• biological therapy

Question 10

Radiation therapy

Answer 10

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)

Question 11

Radiation therapy implementation

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Radiation therapy side effects

Answer 12

Fatigue

Skin reaction

Question 13

Chemotherapy

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Chemotherapy implementation

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Chemotherapy side effect

Answer 15

Fatigue
Nausea 
Pain or soreness
Changes to skin 
Diarrhoea 
Weight gain or loss
Hair loss 
Changes to libido 
Emotional changes

Question 16

Immunotherapy

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Immunotherapy side effects

Answer 17

Fever
Weakness
Chills
Dizziness
Headache 
Nausea 
Muscle of joint ache

Question 18

Hormone therapy

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Hormone therapy side effects

Answer 19

How flashes
Loss of libido 
Weakened bones 
Vaginal dryness
Nausea

Question 20

Survivorship

Answer 20

Provides a focus on the health and wellbeing of a person living with and beyond cancer

Question 21

Some reactions to survivorship

Answer 21

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

Question 22

OT role in cancer treatment

Answer 22

Determining individual's circumstances 
The type and stage of cancer and side effects
Diagnosis 
Treatment 
Rehab
Survivorship 
Palliative care

Question 23

Physical symptom management examples

Answer 23

Lymphoedema management 
Breathlessness edu 
Sleep problem reduction 
Pressure care 
Retraining in ADL 
Environment modification

Question 24

Cancer related fatigue management

Answer 24

Activity modification 
Improving nutrition 
Rest 
Enjoyable activities 
Sleep therapy

Question 25

Psychosocial care

Answer 25

Stress management
Relaxation training
Spiritual support
Supportive counselling