Cancer PATHO Flashcards
Cellular regulation in cancer is
abnormal cellular growth
Cellular proliferation
how quick a cell divides
Differentiation
process by which a cell becomes specialized
cellular development with blood cells starts with a stem cell. the stem cells would be considered the most _______ cell
immature
Two types of leukocytes
Granulocytes and agranulocytes
Function of leukocytes
infection and inflammation
Most mature cells are
the end product with a specific function
Too many red blood cells
Polycythemia
Treatments for low RBC
iron - because it promotes RBC production
Stem cells are created in the
bone marrow
Low platelets are treated
Giving platelets
Low hemoglobin can manifest as what symptom?
fatigue
Low platelets are at risk for
bleeding
Low leukocytes increase the risk of
infection
The spleen is damaged this increases risk of
infection
fungal pneumonia is almost always caused by someone on a
immunomodulator
Methotrexate can
fucking ruin your life if you get cancer because it puts them at risk for opportunistic infections
What is a blast crisis
big problem with blood cancer but a blast crisis is when their treatment isn’t working and they have immature cells. Bone marrow did not differentiate the base cells and then sent them to war in the body with water pistols
hyperplasia means
increased number or density
Metaplasia
replacement or change in a cell
dysplasia
abnormal size, shape or appearance
anaplasia
literally means to form “ass” backwards. This cell looks nothing like the original cell or what it is supposed to look like
Neoplasm
new tissue that grows independently of the surrounding tissue (might not be cancer) just useless tissue
Neoplasm classification of benign
Benign “LIES Beneath”
L - Localized growth
I - Inhibition by contact with other cells (doesn’t grow when it bumps into another cell)
E - Encapsulated (defined border)
S- Slow growing and solid mass
B - behaves in its border
Malignant neoplasms “LAME”
L- Lacks contact inhabitation (I’ll grow where I want)
A- Accelerated growth
M- Metastasis (will break off and go where it wants)
E- Escapes into other tissues
Proto oncogenes promote
Cell growth and division
A DNA change can cause a gene involved in normal cell growth to become ____ which can cause
“oncogenes” which can cause uncontrolled cell growth & division.
Epigenetics
Exposure to inflammation and irritation and genetics are can increase risk of getting cancer
How does cancer develop (3)
Initiation (Damage in the DNA/Exposure)
Promotion ( repeated stress)
Progression (cancer development)
Promotion phase
Repitition of repeated stress (sun, smoking, etc)
Progression phase is
Signs of the cancer causing issues
Oncogenes BRCA 1&2
are genes that promote cell proliferation and are capable of trigering cancer characteristics
Why do we care about BRCA 1&2
we can screen for these
someone who smokes their whole life and doesnt get cancer probably has
good tumor suppression genes
Viruses that can lead to cancer
HPV, H-pylori, Epstein bar (lymphoma)
Promotion
reversal proliferation of cells.
the key to this is prevention of risky lifestyle
what cancer does not make solid tumors
leukemia and multiple myeloma aka
Blood cancers
Metastatic cancer is
cancer that has spread from its origination to another place.
How do pathologists know that a tumor on the bone came from the breast
the tumor cells can vaguely look like the originating cells
Manifestations (symptoms) of cancer
symptoms are vague and depend on site in which cancer is. Think about dysfunction of that organ.
CAUTION common symptoms of cancer
C - Change of bladder or bowel (months of diarrhea)
A - A sore that does not heal
U - unusual bleeding or discharge
T - Thickened Lump
I - Indigestion
O - Obvious change in wart or mole
N - Nagging cough or hoarseness
Pancytopenia means
low in ALL the cells
Exemplar Cancers she wants us to know is Lung cancer (1/4 cancer deaths are from this). What are the two types
Small cell and Non small cell
Small cell cancer
fast growing and more deadly
Non small cel lung cancer
Slower growing and less deadly
Lymphoma types
Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
What is lymphoma?
blood cancer that affect lymphocyte
Difference between hodgkin lymphoma and non
Reed-Sternberg cell (otherwise nothing according to allison)
Diagnostic Tests to confirm cancer
Biopsy
Imaging (PET scan, 3D screening, MRI and CT)
Serum evaluation (CBC, Tumor markers)
Types of biopsys to look for cancer
Pap smear, bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, bone marrow
Bone Marrow biopsy is preformed by
laying pt on side, big ass fucking needle. screw it into the bone. Probably get drugs or local anesthetic unless you like torture.
After have them lay on that side to stop the bleeding
PET scan with cancer treatment and what its used for
they eat sugar and the cancer loves that shit so they absorb it and show red when screened.
- can help with determining metastisixed or if treatment is workin
MRI and CT in cancer great for
Size of tumor
Staging and grading is determined after
a biopsy
Cancer can be classified by (4)
anatomic site, histology, grading , and extent of disease
G1
well differentiated
G2
Moderate
G3-G4
Looks fucked can barely tell what it looks like
Gx
cant be assessed
Grading in cancer means
what does the tumor loook like
TNM
most common staging system
T= primary tumor
N = Nodes or how big
M = metastasis
TNM
most common staging system
T= primary tumor
N = Nodes or how big
M = metastasis
TIS
abnormal cells but have not spread from parent cell
T1-4
How big is this fucker
Tx
cannot assess
Metastasis M0-1 or Mx
is it there or not or can it be assessed
PSA is
Prostate-Specific Antigen (tumor marker)
Serum evaluations for tumors (blood draw that are looked at for cancer)
PSA, Hb, Platelet. Basically a CBC with differential.
CA125 (blood test for ovarian), CEA carcinoma embryonic antigen colon cancer),
Tumor markers are used in conjunction with signs and symptoms to find
Cancer.
How does soft tissue cancer cause pain
Buy compressing under Roeding blood vessels, causing ulceration and necrosis
What is responsible for the majority of pain and cancer?
The interruption of tissue integrity
How does bone cancer cause pain
The physical compression
How would a nurse answer a client that asks how cancer moves from one place to another in the body?
Cancer cells enter the body is lymph system, and thereby spread to other parts of the body
Where does metastasis occur in the body?
Lymph channels, and the blood vessels
Also known as lymphatic and hematogenic spread
When a young child is diagnosed with bone cancer, that requires an aggressive treatment regimen what is the most significant threat to their future health?
Unwanted effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy
Fun facts: Chemotherapy drugs are not retained in the bone matrix and resistance is not a direct consequence of exposure early in life
What tumor suppressor genes are associated with genetics susceptibility to breast cancer
BRCA1 & BRCA2
BReast CAncer 1&2
What is the TP53 suppressor gene associated with?
Lung, breast, and colon cancer
Define growth fraction in cancer
The ratio of dividing cells to resting cells in a tissue mass
or otherwise, there are twice as many dividing cells as resting in a fraction 2/1
What is cachexia?
Mass is lost from both fat and skeletal muscle compartments.
In cancer anorexia primarily contributes to weight loss through starvation, but is primarily seen through the fat compartment
What cancer is the leading cause of cancer death?
Lung cancer
What is an advantage of chemotherapy over surgery and radiation?
It is able to treat cancer both at the primary site and the side of the metastasis
A Pap smear consists of and can test for what
Screening for cervical cancer consists of a microscopic examination of a slide for presence of abnormal cells.
It can also be used to test nipple drainage, anal washings, pleural and peritoneal, fluids, and gastric washings
Why do benign tumors have a fibrous capsule?
Because benign tumors have slow cell replication and growth. It makes the surrounding rim smooth.
What is the primary advantage of targeted cell therapy?
It uses drugs that selectively attack malignant cancer cells without causing harm to normal cells
What is paraneoplastic syndrome?
Also, known as syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion happens, when tumor is producing them up vasopressin causes a severe drop in sodium
