Cancer, O9 Part II - Types of cancer treatment EXAM 2

Question 1

Name the four types of cancer.

Answer 1

1. Carinoma
2. Sarcoma
3. Lymphoma
4. Leukemia

Question 2

What is a carcinoma?

Answer 2

cancer that occurs in the cells that line the surface of the body (e.g., digestive tract, laryngeal cancer…)

Question 3

What type of cancer does laryngeal cancer typically begin as?

Answer 3

squamous cell carcinoma

Question 4

What is a sarcoma?

Answer 4

A type of cancer that arises in the connective tissues - tendons, muscles, and bones.

Question 5

What is a lymphoma?

Answer 5

A type of cancer that arises in the lymph nodes

Question 6

What is leukemia?

Answer 6

A cancer of the blood and the blood-forming systems such as bone marrow

Question 7

How big does a tumor need to be in order to be detectable?

Answer 7

about 1 gram

Question 8

How long might it take a tumor to reach 1 gram?

Answer 8

It may take around 4-5 years

Question 9

True or false: some screening tests, such as mammograms and TSA tests for the prostate, can detect tumors before they reach 1 gram.

Answer 9

TRUE - cellular changes may also be seen on certain types of evaluations.

Question 10

What is “leukoplakia”?

Answer 10

Cellular chang on the surface of the vocal folds that appears as extra white tissue patches with purplish/reddish edges. It is precancerous.

NOTE: vocal folds are SUPPOSED to be white but without purple/reddish edges!
Cancers of the larynx tend to start superficially and appear as extra white tissue.

Question 11

Does laryngeal cancer respond to chemotherapy?

Answer 11

No. It is only used as a LAST resort.

Question 12

What is the goal of radiation?

Answer 12

To kill the rapidly-dividing cancerous cells before it kills the normal cells by saturating the tumor with high amounts of radiation.

Question 13

What types of non-cancerous cells are also rapidly dividing and thus commonly effected by radiation?

Answer 13

Hair cells, the lining of the digestive system, and blood cells.

Question 14

What effect does radiation have on tissue, and how does this effect the larynx?

Answer 14

Radiation causes tissue to become stiff, so radiation of the larynx causes it to become stiff. This effects a person’s ability to eat, drink, and swallow.

Question 15

How long does radiation treatment typically last?

Answer 15

5 – 8 weeks

Question 16

What is the unit of measurement for radiation?

Answer 16

grays (gys)

Question 17

In the 5-8 weeks that a patient typically undergoes radiation treatment, how many gys does he/she receive total?

Answer 17

Between 50-80 gys of ionizing radiation total in the 5-8 weeks of treatment.

Question 18

What is the maximum dosage of radiation that a person can receive in his or her lifetime?

Answer 18

80 gys. If a person receives any more radiation than this, it is more likely to CAUSE cancer rather than to cure it.

Question 19

How many gys does it take to cause tissue to break down? What does the tissue breakdown have an effect on?

Answer 19

It takes 70 gys to cause tissue to breakdown. This has a huge effect on healing.

Question 20

How is radiation typically delivered?

Answer 20

In fractions of gys, 5 days per week.

Question 21

Name another measurement of radiation.

Answer 21

Rads; 100 rads = 1 gy

Question 22

What are some other considerations when it comes to radiation?

Answer 22

1. type of tissue and its response.
2. maximum dosage before the tissue breaks down (70 gys)
3. The spine is irradiated when receiving radiation for laryngeal cancer. This can affect lower motor neurons and can result in ipsilateral paresis.
4. Higher occurance of catarracts
5. Can affect blood pressure due to the carotid artery becoming stiff.

(#s 3-5 are not mentioned in books or by medical professionals)

Question 23

What are some of the general effects of radiation therapy?

Answer 23

• Xerostomia (dry mouth); radiation has affected the mucosal glands.
• Dysphagia
• Decreased tissue compliance (stiffness)
• Hair loss
• Immune compromised
• Infertility
• Anemia
• Being sick to your stomach
• Speech/esophageal effects
• May even affect electrolarynx speech, but not usually.

Question 24

If chemotherapy is used as a last resort, what type of chemo drugs are typically used?

Answer 24

Those that inhibit “angiogenesis” - the creation of new blood vesicles.

• Cancer cells are rapidly dividing, so a tumor needs to develop its own blood-supply; these drugs are aimed at stopping the formation of new blood vessels.

Question 25

What does VEGF stand for and what is it related to?

Answer 25

Vascular endothelial growth factors - related to the chemotherapy drugs used to treat laryngeal cancer patients as a last resort.

Question 26

How does radiation work?

Answer 26

It works by breaking apart the bonds that hold the atoms and molecules in our bodies together.

Question 27

Remember! A total radiation dosage of 80 gys is a ___________ dosage.

Answer 27

LIFETIME