cancer disorders Flashcards
skin cancer most effective strategy for prevention
of skin cancer is avoidance or reduction of skin exposure to sunlight.
- easiest to prevent
skin cancer types
Squamous cell (epidermis)
- Rough, scaly lesion with central ulceration and crusting
Basal cell
- looks like flesh, smally waxy nodules, can grow central ulceration
Malignant melanoma
- vary in color, moles that changed, itchy, cracked, 6mm size, fatal, red/white/blue, irregular shape, not good borders
skin cancer disease prevention
- Limit exposure to sunlight, especially between 1000 and 1500.
- Apply sunscreen when near reflective surfaces (sand, snow, water, concrete).
- Use sunblock that has an SPF of at least 15/20, with both UVA and UVB protection, even in winter months
- Avoid indoor tanning (tanning beds, booths, sunlamps).
skin cancer ABCDE: A
Asymmetry: One side does not match the other
skin cancer ABCDE: B
Borders: Ragged, notched, irregular, or blurred edges
skin cancer ABCDE: C
Color: Lack of uniformity in pigmentation (shades of tan, brown, or black)
skin cancer ABCDE: D
Diameter: Width greater than 6 mm, or about the size of a pencil eraser or a pea
skin cancer ABCDE: E
Evolving: Or change in appearance (shape, size, color, height, texture) or condition (bleeding, itching)
skin cancer therpautic procedures
- Chemotherapy
Topical chemotherapy with 5‑fluorouracil cream - Interferon therapy
- Vemurafenib is an oral medication used for targeted therapy to treat melanoma.
- Radiation: shrink tumor cells w radioactive waves, localized bc it is dangerous
- Cryosurgery
- Curettage (scrapes cancer) and electrodessication
- Excision
1) operate
2) chemo
Leukemias are cancers of white blood cells
Leukemias are divided into:
acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
- increase bleeding, infection, increase wbc
Leukemia and Lymphomas are diagnosed with
imaging, biopsies, and blood work
- A CBC will show abnormal white blood cells with Leukemia
cause of Leukemias and Lymphomas
- The goal of treatment is to eliminate all leukemic cells.
- The exact cause of leukemia is not known.
- Overgrowth of leukemic cells prevents growth of platelets, erythrocytes, mature leukocytes.
- Lack of mature leukocytes leads to immunosuppression.
leading cause of death among clients who have leukemia.
- infection
- Lack of platelets increases the client’s risk of bleeding.
- Patients often present with abnormal brusing!
Lymphomas are cancers of
lymphocytes and lymph nodes.
- Can metastasize to almost any organ
Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) cause
Possible causes include viral infections and exposure to chemical agents.
- teens, young adults 40&50s
Non‑Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) cause
Possible causes include gene damage, viral infections, autoimmune disease, and exposure to radiation or toxic chemicals.
- negative for reed sternburg
Lymphoma: Expected Findings
- Most clients experience an enlarged lymph node in the neck
- WBC can show leukemia
- Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets decreased, patient will have brusing
- Coagulation time is increased with acute leukemia: Monitor for bleeding.
Hodgkin’s lymphoma: expected findings
presence of Reed-Sternberg cells (cancerous B-lymphocytes)
Non‑Hodgkin’s lymphoma: expected findings
any other lymph node malignancy
Lymphoma: Nursing Care
- Monitor for evidence of infection.
- Implement neutropenic precautions
- Frequent, thorough hand hygiene is a priority intervention.
- Place the client in a private room.
- Monitor WBC.
- lungs, no crackles, cough
- no uti, olguira
- skin for cuts, puss
Leukemia and Lymphoma Treatment
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Bone Marrow Transplant
Chemotherapy complications
- Pancytopenia: blood count decreased
- Thrombocytopenia: decreased platelets
- Hypoxemia: hemoglobin goes down, not enough 02 b/c decreased rbc, conserve energy, and 02 consumption, rest, no activity, eat diet high in carbs, proteins, rbc transfusion
Prognosis of lung cancer is
poor because it is often diagnosed in an advanced stage, when metastasis has occurred.
Palliative care is often the focus at the advanced stage (III, IV).
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is
fast-growing and is consistently linked to a history of cigarette smoking.
Lung Cancer: Clinical Findings
- Orthopnea
- Chronic cough
- Chronic dyspnea
- Chest wall pain
- Fatigue, weight loss, or anorexia
- Fever
- Hoarseness
- Altered breath sounds (wheezing)
- Diminished or absent breath sounds
- Chest pain or tightness
- Muffled heart sounds
- Pleural friction rub
- Clubbing of fingers
- Increased work of breathing
- Decreased bone density
Lung Cancer: Nursing Care
- Determine the pack-year history for clients who smoke. Encourage cessation!
- Ask about exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Monitor for a cough that changes in pattern.
- Monitor nutritional status, weight loss, and anorexia.
- Promote adequate nutrition of infection.
- Maintain a patent airway and suction as needed.
- Position the client in Fowler’s position to maximize ventilation.
- Encourage the client to take rest periods as needed.
- Provide information for psychosocial support.
Lung Cancer: Treatment
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Surgery
- Palliative Measures
- Thoracentesis to ease breathing
- Laser therapy and photodynamic therapy to open airways blocked by tumors.
- Pericardiocentesis or pericardial window to improve cardiac function
- bronchodilators/steroids: help with inflammation