Cancer - Solid Tumor Flashcards
Carcinogen
Any outside influence that causes gene damage
Metastasis
Spread of cancer from the primary location of the tumor to other areas of the body
Mitosis
Process of non-gamete cellular replication. This process becomes faulty in cancer
Neoplasm
Benign - indicates a neoplasm is non-cancerous. Can still cause problems.
Malignant - neoplasms which spread into other body tissues
TNM Staging
the higher the number the larger the size/the worse the cancer
chemotherapy
group of medications meant to slow cancer growth by inhibiting cell division. 2+ chemo agents used at a time. Non-selective for cancer cells
neoadjuvant tx
therapy delivered before the main tx, designed to reduce the size of the tumor or kill cancer cells that may have spread
adjuvant tx
therapy given after the main tx to destroy any remaining cancer cells
vesicant
some chemo meds are this - can cause tissue necrosis if extravasation occurs
chemo side effects
- acute toxicity
- fatigue
- hair loss
- infertility
- mucositis
- N/V
- neuropathy
- neutropenia/thrombocytopenia
- organ damage (esp kidneys and heart)
- secondary cancres
neutropenia
<1.5 cells/L
neutropenic precautions
- no sick visitors
- no cross staffing with any patients on isolation
- keep door to room closed
- put mask on pt when transporting them
- avoid fresh flowers, fruits, veg
- encourage daily bathing and BID oral hygiene
radiation therapy
uses x-rays and gamma rays to cause molecular DNA breaks that stop cellular replication
stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS)
uses sophisticated machinery to direct radiation to very precise location
- can also be used to treat non-cancerous tumors, AVMs, trigeminal neuralgia and tremor disorders
common complications of radiation
- radiation burns
- tissue necrosis where radiation is administered
- fatigue
- nausea
- HA
- loss of appetite
- hair loss (in the spot they’re receiving radiation)
- seizure (brain radiation)
- cerebral edema (brain radiation)
