Cancer pathophysiology

Question 1

What is the difference between hyperplasia and dysplasia?

Answer 1

Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of normal appearing cells.
Dysplasia is cells that look abnormal but are not cancerous.

Question 2

______ tumours are invasive and metastasise.

Answer 2

Malignant

Question 3

3 causes of cancer are?

Answer 3

Genetics
Carcinogens
Tumour suppressors

Question 4

What do tumour suppressors do?

What is the effect of inactive TS?

Answer 4

TS genes slow cell division, promote DNA repair and orchestrate apoptosis.
When they are inactive the result in cancer.

Question 5

What is the difference between proto-oncogenes vs oncogenes.

Answer 5

Proto-oncogenes: a normal gene that regulates cell growth and differentiation.
Oncogene: A mutation that upregulates gene expression.

Question 6

What is an example of a TS?

Answer 6

P53

Question 7

What are the genes that increase the risk of breast cancer?

Answer 7

BRCA 1&2

Question 8

What is an example of a carcinogen?

Answer 8

Asbestos, benzene, UV, H.pylori, HBV, HCV, HPV

Question 9

How does cancer spread?

Answer 9

It crosses the basement membrane of the epithelium and invades other organs.

Question 10

What are the major routes of metastasis?

Answer 10

1. Via blood
2. via lymphatic system
3. seeding into body cavities
4. surgical incision tracts.

Question 11

What are signs of cachexia?

Answer 11

fever, anorexia, wasting, depression, fatigue. This is due to the body’s energy being absorbed by the tumour.

Question 12

What is paraneoplastic endocrine disease?

Answer 12

Increase in secretion of hormones, cytokines from malignant tissue.

Question 13

What local effects of a tumour?

Answer 13

Compression, obstruction, bleeding/ulceration

Question 14

What are distant effects of a tumour?

Answer 14

Paraneoplastic syndrome, cachexia, pain.

Question 15

What are the 4 treatment options for cancer?

Answer 15

Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
Immunotherapy

Question 16

What determines whether someone is eligible for surgery?

Answer 16

Absence of distant metastasis.

No local infiltration.

Question 17

What is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women?

Answer 17

Breast cancer.

Question 18

What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

Answer 18

• increasing age
• family hx
• mutations in BRCA2 & BRCA1
• exposure to Oestrogen
• starting menstruating before 12
• high BMI and lack of exercise
• smoking/drinking

Question 19

S/S of breast cancer

Answer 19

pain in breast, lump in breast that is hard and immovable, nipple discharge or bleeding, skin or shape change, discomfort or swelling in the armpit

Question 20

What is the 2nd most common cancer in females?

Answer 20

Cervical cancer

Question 21

High risk types of ___ account for 90% of cases of cervical cancer. It interferes with ___, a TS.

Answer 21

HPV, p53.

Question 22

What are dietary causes of cervical cancer?

Answer 22

lack of Vit A, C and folic acid.

Question 23

Pelvic pain and unusual bleeding are signs of _____

Answer 23

Cervical cancer

Question 24

What is the most common cancer for men?

Answer 24

Prostate cancer.

Question 25

Mutation of BRCA1 or 2 can cause ______ and _____ cancer.

Answer 25

prostate, breast.

Question 26

What is used to diagnose prostate cancer?

Answer 26

rectal examination, PSA (prostate specific antigen), US/MRI, Biopsy.

Question 27

What are the common types of skin cancer?

Answer 27

Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma or Melanoma.

Question 28

What increases the risk of developing melanoma?

Answer 28

Genetic predisposition, Solar radiation, Sunlight, moles

Question 29

What does ABCDE stand for when examining moles?

Answer 29

A - asymmetry
B- border (uneven)
C - colour (multiple colours)
D - diameter (larger that 1/4inch)
E - evolving

Question 30

What are the risk factors for lung cancer?

Answer 30

• smoking
• exposure to smoke
• occupational exposures
• air pollution
• age
• family hx.

Question 31

A persistent cough, chest pain, SOB, loss of appetite, weight loss, chronic chest infection are S/S for what?

Answer 31

Lung cancer.

Question 32

What is stage 0 cancer?

Answer 32

It is when the cancer is still the location where it starts.

Question 33

What is stage 1 cancer?

Answer 33

localised cancer that has spread a little but not into any lymph nodes.

Question 34

What is stage 2 & 3 cancer?

Answer 34

Cancer is larger and spread to a regional area or lymph nodes.

Question 35

What is stage 4 cancer?

Answer 35

Cancer has metastasized to distant parts of the body.

Question 36

What does TNM mean?

Answer 36

T - size of tumour 1-4
N - number of lymph nodes effected 0-3
M- whether cancer has metastasized and to what extent.

Question 37

What is a Nevus?

Answer 37

A type of mole that looks different from a common type of mole.

Question 38

True/False: Lung cancer has a low survival rate.

Answer 38

True.

Question 39

Why are malignant breast cancer lumps hard and fixed?

Answer 39

inflammation and infiltration make the lump hard and connect it to the surrounding tissue.

Question 40

What is a side effect of lymph node biopsy?

Answer 40

Lymphedema