Cancer Class 4 - Radiation & Massage Therapy Flashcards
Radiation is almost always a _____ and ________ treatment of cancer.
Local
Specific
T/F - Radiation cannot actually cause cancer.
False - Radiation CAN actually cause cancer.
A type of cancer treatment that scrambles the DNA and RNA of cells, meaning it has the capacity to either destroy them entirely or impact their ability to go through mitosis.
Radiation
T/F - Almost half of all cancer patients will receive radiation therapy and it is directed at an area that is likely to harbour the most cancer cells.
True
________ ____ radiation is a traditional type of radiation where patients will have small tattoos to mark specific coordinates. This ensures that the radiation lines up the same way every time.
External Beam
T/F - Radiation only targets cancer cells, therefore no damage is caused to other structures the beam goes through, such as muscle and bone tissue.
False - Radiation DOESN’T JUST target cancer cells, therefore damage is caused to other structures the beam goes through, such as muscle and bone tissue.
T/F - Surgery is the most effective treatment for cancer.
True
_________ therapy is preferred for an area of importance that should not be removed, such as the larynx.
Radiation
Radiation can be used to shrink _______, allowing for a safer and more effective surgery.
Tumours
Radiation can be used as a precaution to kill residual cancer cells post-_______, even if _____ margins were achieved.
Surgery
Clear
T/F - Radiation has no effect on an inoperable tumour.
False - Radiation CAN HELP MANAGE an inoperable tumour.
Radiation has __________ uses, such as addressing areas of excessive pain. This doesn’t always work if the pain is not tissue-related.
Palliative
T/F - Some cancer types are more resilient to radiation therapy compared to others.
True
What are the 3 types of radiation?
1) External Beam Radiation
2) Internal Radiation
3) Systemic Radiation
Most radiation treatments take about ___ minutes, and the patient will have to remain in the same position for the entire treatment. Everyone’s ____ will react differently.
45 minutes
Skin
The most common type of radiation therapy that follows a consistent schedule. A machine aims radiation at the cancer and the beam passes through all tissues in line with it.
External Beam Radiation (aka. Teletherapy)
T/F - External beam radiation is dangerous to massage therapists, as it remains in the patient’s body and leaves them radioactive.
False - External beam radiation is NOT dangerous to massage therapists, as it GOES STRAIGHT THROUGH the patient’s body and DOES NOT leave them radioactive.
A type of radiation therapy where a seed, wire or rod is implanted into the patient’s body close to an existing tumour or surgical site to clean up the area.
Internal Radiation (aka. Brachytherapy)
T/F - Internal radiation is not as common as external beam radiation.
True
T/F - Internal radiation can stay in the body for days to months, however the patient is not considered radioactive when they have the source in their body.
False - Internal radiation can stay in the body for days to months, THEREFORE the patient IS considered radioactive when they have the source in their body.
Patients undergoing internal radiation can be ___________ or not allowed in the same room as someone who is pregnant or immunocompromised.
Quarantined
________ radiation can involve temporary or permanent implantation, and the amount of radiation that reaches the skin is usually ___.
Internal
Low
A type of radiation therapy where the patient recieves injections of radioactive substance or sometimes they will swallow a source of radiation (e.g. thyroid cancer) depending on the type of cancer they have.
Systemic Radiation (aka. Interstitial Brachytherapy)
T/F - Systemic radiation will make the patient’s sweat, urine, stool and saliva radioactive for a period of time.
True
With external beam radiation, the site becomes increasingly _______ for the patient due to being receptively burned in the same area.
Painful
T/F - Most people underestimate the degree of fatigue cancer patients undergoing radiation experience.
True
Radiation can cause possible ______ for the patient due to direct impact on associated organs like the stomach.
Nausea
Since radiation beams don’t just bounce off the skin, massage therapists must consider _____ and ____ burns related to patient positioning and techniques used.
Entry & Exit
T/F - Massage therapists cannot make radiation burns worse with oil, water, pressure or mechanical stresses.
False - Massage therapists CAN make radiation burns worse with oil, water, pressure or mechanical stresses.
Massage oil conducts ___________ easily and can intensify a radiation burn. ____ hydrotherapy negates what the radiation process is trying to achieve.
Temperature
Cold
Onsite work to a radiation burn is a _____ ________ contraindication for massage therapists. The patient should be asked for a list of ____________ related to the area of radiation.
Local Absolute
Restrictions
T/F - Cornstarch, neutral showers and specific creams can be soothing for radiation burns.
True
Radiation therapy can contribute to _______ issues, such as presence of blisters and overall skin breakdown.
Hygiene
If there is skin breakdown, massage therapists want to follow the __ inch avoidance rule.
4 inch
Due to ____________ of radiation applications, cancer patients typically endure a heal/burn cycle.
Reoccurrence
There is a risk of weakness or _________ of structures with radiation therapy, with both short term and long term effects.
Fragility
T/F - Skin, blood vessels and lymph vessels are damaged initially with radiation, but can be permanently weakened in the long term.
False - Skin, blood vessels and lymph vessels are damaged initially with radiation, but RECOVER WELL AFTER TREATMENTS HAVE ENDED.
Structures like _____, _______ and ligaments have slower cell replication rates, therefore they can be permanently weakened in the long term by radiation.
Bones
Tendons
____________ rib fractures are expected post-mastectomy in combination with radiation therapy.
Pathological
Radiation can cause _____ irritation or damage due to inflammation, with both short term and long term effects.
Nerve
Match the following descriptions with the corresponding term.
1) Lack of sensation
2) Diminished sensation
3) Increased sensation
4) Tingling sensation
5) Painful sensation
A) Paraesthesia
B) Hyperesthesia
C) Anaesthesia
D) Dysaesthesia
E) Hypoesthesia
1) Lack of sensation = C) Anaesthesia
2) Diminished sensation = E) Hypoesthesia
3) Increased sensation = B) Hyperesthesia
4) Tingling sensation = A) Paraesthesia
5) Painful sensation = D) Dysaesthesia
T/F - There will be decreased nerve firing during the radiation procedure, and things will pick up once radiation is complete.
False - There will be INCREASED nerve firing during the radiation procedure, and things will SETTLE DOWN once radiation is complete.
It is very ________ that a radiation patient will get full sensation back in an area of nerve damage.
Unlikely
Massage therapists must use their best _________ regarding when to begin onsite work. They must also be aware that _______ can persist as long as a year for the patient post-radiation procedure.
Judgement
Fatigue
T/F - Radiation impacts tissue densities, such as adipose tissue shrinking and losing flexibility. This would be a great place for massage therapists to do fascial work.
True
There can be long term skin ___________ to heat, pressure and the sun for areas that have undergone radiation threapy.
Sensitivity
T/F - Radiation therapy does not impact the functionality of vital organs like the heart and lungs.
False - Radiation therapy CAN POTENTIALLY impact the functionality of vital organs like the heart and lungs.
