Cancer Lecture Flashcards
what is cancer?
group of disorders known as “malignancy”
abnormal cell proliferation –> mass (solid tumor) or invading hematologic system (liquid tumor)
- acquired thru genetic mutation, can destroy surrounding tissue, occurs anywhere
what is a benign tumor?
dont spead but can increase in size, presses on local structures (NOT cancerous/malignant)
what is carcinogenesis?
malignant transformation of normal cells –> cancer cells
what is dysplasia?
“precancerous with risk of becoming cancerous
most common cancers in males?
- prostate (29%)
- lung/bronchus (12%)
- urinary bladder (8%)
- melanoma
most common cancers in females?
- breast (31%)
- lung (13%)
- colon/rectum (8%)
cancer that causes most deaths?
- lung (male/female - 21%)
- prostate (11%)
- breast (female - 15%)
what are risk factors for developing cancer? (17)
**tobacco/smoking - leading cause of lung cancer
- diet/obesity/lack of physical activity - high fat/calorie/meats
- genetics
- occupational/environmental - asbestos, pesticides, formaldehydes, arsenic, soot, tar
- infectious agents - ebstein-barr, hep B, HPB, HIV
- age
- gender
- race
- sunlight
- immune function
- chronic irritation/tissue trauma
- alcohol
- sexual lifestyle
- socioeconomic
- geographic location
- hormones
CAUTION (major warning signs)
C - changes in bowel/bladder
A - a sore that doesn’t heal
U - unusual bleeding/discharge
T - thickening/lump
I - indigestion/difficulty swallowing
O - obvious change in wart/mole
N - nagging cough/hoarseness
signs/symptoms of cancer
General: night sweats, fever, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, cachexia
Neuro: unrelenting HA, vision changes, paresthesia, slurred speech, seizures
Pain: unrelenting/worsening
New lumps/bumps
Lung: new/worsening SOB, hemoptysis
GI: loss of appetite, B/V, abdominal distention
GU: enlarged prostate s/s (slow stream, diffic
signs/symptoms of cancer
General: night sweats, fever, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, cachexia
Neuro: unrelenting HA, vision changes, paresthesia, slurred speech, seizures
Pain: unrelenting/worsening
New lumps/bumps
Lung: new/worsening SOB, hemoptysis
GI: loss of appetite, B/V, abdominal distention
GU: enlarged prostate s/s (slow stream, difficulty, stream stops/starts
Heme: bruising/bleeding, new DVT/PE
what is the breast cancer screening?
mammogram (self breast exam)
starts age 40; earlier if high risk
cervical cancer screening
pap test, +/- HPV DNA
starts at 21
what is the colorectal cancer screening?
starts at 45
flexible sigmoidoscopy
colonoscopy
gFOBT or FIT
multi-targeted stool DNA test (MT-SDNA)
what is the lung cancer screening?
low dose CT scan annually
current/former smokers (quit within past 15 years, ages 55-74, 30 pack year or more)
what is the prostate cancer screening?
digital rectal exam (DRE) and PSA (prostate specific antigen)
starts at 50, age 45 for African American males
purpose of imaging studies?
detects tumor, lymph nodes, metastases
used for staging
typically multiple scans (mammogram, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, bone scan, PET/CT scan
what is the purpose of a biopsy/types?
*tissue needed to tell tumor type/confirm if malignant
needle biopsy
fine needle aspirate (FNA): cells ONLY
core needle: “core” tissue; includes bone marrow biopsy
excisional: used for small accessible tumor (palpable lymph node)
what is the nurse role in pre-biopsy?
patient/family education on procedure
- NPO, restrict fluids, light breakfast
- hold blood thinners
- meds to hold/timing
- manage pt/family anxiety
- provide teaching hand outs
what is the nurse role day of the procedure? (biopsy)
admin pre-procedure meds
- positioning
- monitoring
- provide safe environment
- assist pt/fam anxiety
- post-procedure instructions
what is the nurse role in post procedure? (biopsy)
phone call follow up with pt
what are the stages of solid tumors?
- based on imaging/pathology results
T = tumor size, extent of local invasion
N = lymph node involvement
M = metastases
Stages:
o - carcinoma in situ (precancerous)
I - early stage
II
III
IV - metastatic
what is TNM staging?
T - extent of primary tumor
N - absence/presence + extent of regional lymph node metastasis
M - absence/presence of distant metastasis
what is primary tumor (T) staging?
Tx - primary tumor cant be assessed
T0 - no evidence of primary tumor
Tis - carcinoma in situ
T1, T2, T3, T4 - increasing size and/local extent of primary tumor
what is regional lymph node (N) staging?
Nx - regional lymph node cannot be assessed
N0 - no regional lymph node metastasis
N1, N2, N3 increasing involvement
what is distant metastasis staging (M)?
Mx - distant metastasis cant be assessed
M0 - no distant metastasis
M1 - distant metastasis
what is cancer grading and differentation?
G1 - well differentiated (better prognosis)
G2 - moderately differentiated
G3 - poorly differentiated
G4 - undifferentiated (more aggressive)
what is metastasis?
cancer cell breaks off from original tumor/travels to blood/lymph to grow in other parts of the body
**always named based on origination site
what is leukemia?
cancer of WBC
what is lymphoma?
cancer of lymph cells
what is multiple myeloma?
cancer of plasma cells
what are the goals of cancer therapy?
prevention, cure, control, palliation
what is the management of cancer?
- based on pt’s beliefs/goals
**MAINTAIN QUALITY OF LIFE - tx options not finalized until staging is complete
- guided by age, pregnancy, current state of health
- collaborate w/ other disciplines
what are the possible treatment modalities?
surgery
chemo
radiation
HSCT (stem cell)
immunotherapy
hormonal therapy
targeted therapy
treatment terms
neoadjuvant: tx given PRIOR to surgery
adjuvant: tx given AFTER primary therapy (ex. surgery)
maintenance: if pt is responsive to tx (no progression/recurrence) may be kept for extended periods
what are the different surgeries for cancer tx?
en bloc resection: complete removal of tumor, localized lymph nodes/adjacent involved tissue
open (full incision): if minimally invasive unsafe –> convert to open
minimally invasive: laparascopic, VATS (vide assisted thoracic surgery), robotic - lungs, abdomen, pelvis
metastectomy: removing metastatic lesions for cure
sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping - used for preop breast cancer/melanoma
lymph node dissection (LND) - removing locan LNs which drain from tumor (lymphadenectomy)
what is the nurse’s role with surgery?
ERAS (enhanced recovery after surgery)
- safe environment
- hold blood thinners
- prev/tx pain, N/V, constipation, early ambulation
- teaching: drains, ostomies, wounds, implanted devices
- prev post op complications: infection, electrolyte imbalances, hemorrhage, ileus, embolism, O2, shock
- involve other disciplines (PT, OT, SW)
what is radiation therapy/how is it used?
targets tissues/destroys cells using ionizing radiation (alters DNA of maligant + healthy cells BUT ONLY IN FIELD RADIATION GIVEN)
- most actively dividing cells affected
- localized tx
used to:
- cure/control cancer
- prior to surgery to dec size
- to control symptoms
- prophylactically
- emergencies (SC compression, bronchial obstruction , SVC syndrome)
external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) types
traditional: multiple beams, several weeks of daily dosing, allows healthy tissue to repair + better cell kill
stereotactic body RT (SBRT) or RS: one small target but high dose, fewer doses but in larger fractions
**PT is NOT radioactive
internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy)
radioactive seeds placed within/next tumor (uterus or chest)
**PT IS RADIOACTIVE
may be placed in a sealed room
what are the common side effects of radiation?
general: fatigue, skin changes, hair loss @ site
sites of RT:
brain - memory/concentration issues, N/V, HA
head/neck: mucositis, dysphagia (pain, dry, tight), taste changes, hypothyroid
breast: swollen, tender
chest: mucositis (esophagus), dysphagia, cough, dyspnea
stomach/abdomen: N/V, diarrhea, urinary/bladder
pelvis/rectum: diarrhea, sexual/fertility problems, urinary/bladder
what is the nurse role in EBRT?
monitor skin or radiodermatitis: redness, blanching, sloughing, ulceration
monitor oral cavity: mucositis, xerostomia, change in taste
monitor for dysphagia, N/V, anorexia, diarrhea
bone marrow suppression: dec WBC, neutrophils, RBC, platelets, infection/bleeding
pneumonitis: dyspnea, cough
what is the pt education for EBRT?
S/E of dysgeusia (altered taste), skin damage, avoid sun, use of powders, deodorant, lotions in skin is irritated
mucositis: avoid spicy, salty, acidic, temp of food should NOT be spicy
what is the pt education for brachytherapy?
**PT/BODILY FLUIDS ARE RADIOACTIVE
must call when using bathroom
explain apron, visitation, distancing
explain specific position during tx
distance - at least 6 ft
what is the nurse role for brachytherapy?
**PT/BODILY FLUIDS ARE RADIOACTIVE
- place in private room with door closed
- dosimeter badge (records radiation exposure)
- limit visitors (6 ft)
- pregnant or 16 yrs or younger NOT permitted to enter
- keep lead container in room
what is chemotherapy?
goals: cure, control, palliate
*cytotoxic meds that damage cell’s DNA + destroys rapidly dividing cells
classified based on MOA in relation to cell cycle
tx systemic disease - cancer that has spread
given neoadjuvant, adjuvant or primate (leukemia or stage IV)
dosage based on TBA - dec for renal function, liver, age, comorbidities
some have a lifetime max dose due to irreversible organ toxicity (ex Doxurubicin - cardiac)
**wear proper PPE, dispose in YELLOW BINS
have a spill kit
what is extravasation?
leakage of chemo into tissue from vein
causes mild to severe damage
irritants - localized irritation
vesicants - inflammation, tissue damage, can cause necrosis
dactonomycin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, nitrogen mustard, mitomycin, vinblastine, vincristine - GIVE THROUGH CENTRAL LINE
what are the nursing interventions for extravasation?
must be trained
STOP CHEMO if occurs
get extravasation kit with antidotes
catheters used for cancer patients
mediport or port-a-cath: implanted device used for long term med admin (accessed through Huber needle - 90 deg.)
PICC line
hypersensitivity reactions
typically occur during infusion
s/s: rash, urticaria, fever, hypotension, dyspnea, wheezing, throat tightness, syncope, cardiac arrest
nursing: recognize s/s, *turn off infusion**, give meds (steroids, epi, benadryl)
**pre meds given prior can cause HSR