Cancer Screening for PTs Flashcards
Primary methods when screening for cancer
Basic tools
Suspicious red flag findings or lesions
Understand risk factors for cancer and keep resources to aide decision making
Greatest reason for early detection for cancer
Early detection may reduce mortality rate
Immediate physician referral (1)
Recently discovered lumps or nodules or a change in known lumps, nodules, or moles. Especially in individuals with a known history of cancer.
Immediate physician referral (2)
Lymph node enlargement or suspicious lymph node. Palpable, fixed, and irregular mass in the breast of axilla
Immediate physician referral (3)
Presence of lymphadenopathy
Immediate physician referral (4)
Presence of early warning signs (CAUTIONS)
i.e. Idiopathic muscle weakness accompanied by decreased DTR’s
Immediate physician referral (5)
Unexplained bleeding from any area (i.e. nose, blood in urine or stool, ear, mole or skin, mouth)
Immediate physician referral (6)
Signs or symptoms of metastasis in a patient with a past history of cancer
Immediate physician referral (7)
Male w/ pelvic, groin, SIJ, or LBP w/ leg symptoms and a past history of prostate cancer
What acronym do we use to screen for early warning signs of cancer?
CAUTIONS
What does C stand for in CAUTIONS?
Change in bowel or bladder habits
What does A stand for in CAUTIONS?
A sore that does not heal in 6 weeks
What does U stand for in CAUTIONS?
Unusual discharge or bleeding
What does T stand for in CAUTIONS?
Thickening or lump anywhere
What does I stand for in CAUTIONS?
Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
What does O stand for in CAUTIONS?
Obvious change in wart or mole
What does N stand for in CAUTIONS?
Nagging cough or hoarseness
What does S stand for in CAUTIONS?
Supplementary signs/symptoms
What qualifies as supplementary signs/symptoms?
Recent weight gain/loss
Night pain (worst pain in 24-hour period)
Proximal muscle weakness (symmetrical and idiopathic)
Change in DTRs
Pathological fractures
What is important to know about bleeding when it comes to cancer?
It is an important sign BUT is indicative of advanced cancer
What is important to know about pain when it comes to cancer?
Pain is rarely an early warning sign
Tumors do not have nociceptors
60-80% of people with solid tumors have pain
What is important to know about the early stages of cancer?
Early stages are often asymptomatic
Non-modifiable risk factors for cancer
Age greater than 50 years old
Family/personal history of cancer
Ethnicity
Heredity
What age does a majority of cancers occur?
After 65
What family qualifies when talking about family/personal history of cancer?
Immediate biological family
What ethnicity is most at risk for cancer?
African-americans have the highest rate
What cancers that we talked about in class are hereditary?
5% breast, ovarian, colon
Modifiable risk factors for cancer
Tobacco use Chemical exposure Alcohol Sedentary lifestyle Obesity Lack of access to health care
What is important to know about tobacco use when it comes to risk factors for cancer?
It includes 2nd hand smoke
What is important to know about alcohol use when it comes to risk factors for cancer?
Greater than 2 drinks per day
What is important to know about obesity when it comes to risk factors for cancer?
It is related to around 1/3 of cancer deaths
Those who are over 50 have a higher risk of…
Cancer, AAA, fracture, and infection
People who have a past or present history of any type of cancer have an increased risk of…
Cancer-causing LBP
What are common metastatic cancers that cause LBP?
Prostate, breast, kidney, thyroid, lung, and lymphoma (“lead kettle” mnemonic = PB KTLL)
Those who have pain not relieved with rest or wakes at night not related to movement or positioning have a higher risk of…
Cancer, AAA, infection
How much weight loss is concerning/indicative for cancer?
5-10% in 6 months not directly related to diet or exercise
Characteristics of benign tumors
Cells are well differentiated
Well organized stroma
Named after tissue of origin + -oma
Space occupying lesion -> compression
Characteristics of malignant tumors
Cells are poorly differentiated (anaplasia and pleomorphic)
No organized stroma
What does anaplasia mean?
Loss of differentiation
What does pleomorphic mean?
Variability in size and shape
What is stroma?
A capsule
Why is it bad for tumors to not have stromas?
Easier for cells to spread
Invasive tumor characteristics
Malignant tumor that has invaded surrounding tissue
Spread of cancer cells from primary to secondary site
