Cancer Treatment

Question 1

What are the three main cancer treatments?

Answer 1

1. Surgery
2. Radiation
3. Chemo

Question 2

What is the goal of chemotherapy?

Answer 2

To limit the cell proliferation that us occurring by killing the caner cells or limiting their growth

Question 3

What is cytotoxicity?

Answer 3

During chemotherapy, cancer cells are not easily destroyed without causing harm to human tissue- they lack specificity to only affect the cancer cells

Question 4

What is cell kill hypothesis?

Answer 4

Each round of chemo will kill a certain percentage of cancer cells- this hypothesis explains why chemo can never completely eliminate the tumor because some cells will survive each treatment round
-if the tumor can be reduced to a small enough size with chemo then the body’s defense mechanisms can address the remaining tissues and the body is essentially in remission

Question 5

Adverse effects of chemo

Answer 5

-associated with severe side effects: normal cells must undergo mitosis in order to function
-GI disturbances
-anemia
-weight loss
-cough
-constipation

Question 6

What are the different chemotherapeutic agents?

Answer 6

-alkylating agents
-antimetabolites
-anticancer antibiotics
-antimicrotubular agents
-toposiomerase inhibitors

Question 7

Alkylating agents

Answer 7

prevent DNA function and replication

Question 8

Antimetabolites

Answer 8

cell’s ability to synthesize normal DNA and RNA is impaired

Question 9

Anticancer antibiotics

Answer 9

antibiotics- but side effects are so toxic they can only be used for cancer

Question 10

antimicrotubular agents

Answer 10

disrupts mitosis and keeps the cell from dividing and proliferating

Question 11

Toposiomerase inhibitors

Answer 11

inhibit the enzymes that are necessary for normal DNA replication

Question 12

Anticancer hormones

Answer 12

Drugs that block the effects of certain hormones may be useful in treating certain forms of cancer
-typically used as an adjunct along with surgery, radiation, or other chemo drugs

Question 13

Monoclonal Antibodies

Answer 13

Drugs are manufactured using cell cloning that produces an antibody that is specific for an antigen on the surface of a particular cancer cell- the antibody is attracted to the cancer cell without effect on health tissue

Question 14

Monoclonal Antibodies

Answer 14

Drugs are manufactured using cell cloning that produces an antibody that is specific for an antigen on the surface of a particular cancer cell- the antibody is attracted to the cancer cell without effect on health tissue
-targeted specific cancer cell

Question 15

What is considered one of the most promising advancements in cancer treatment?

Answer 15

Monoclonal antibodies- targeted therapy because it is specific to the cancer cell
**minimal effect on health human cells

Question 16

Cytokines

Answer 16

Small proteins that play a role in modulating immune responses by stimulating the immune mechanisms that would normally deal with abnormal cell proliferation

Question 17

Chemotherapy Drugs

Answer 17

-Anticancer hormones
-monoclonal antibodies
-cytokines
-aspirin and other NSAIDS
-other

Question 18

Aspirin and other NSAIDS

Answer 18

can prevent colorectal cancer and may decrease malignancies of the stomach, esophagus, breast, prostate, and lungs
-increased protection found in those who use aspirin on a regular basis for several years

Question 19

What is combination therapy?

Answer 19

when several different anticancer drugs or types of chemotherapy drugs are administered together
-chemo may be administered prior to a more aggressive surgery or radiation treatments in an effort to shrink the tumor

**allows for a more successful treatment

Question 20

Side effects of cancer

Answer 20

-pain
-depression/anxiety
-premature menopause

Question 21

Success rates of cancer treatment

Answer 21

Some forms of cancer can be cured in more than 90% of affected patients, but in other forms, treatment will not cure the disease but may lead to remission and prolong survival
-certain forms of cancer do not respond well to treatment

Question 22

Rehab implications for pts going through chemo

Answer 22

-pts may be suffering from GI problems, blood disorders, and significant fatigue
-neurotoxic effects: peripheral neuropathy and CNS abnormalities
-make sure to reassure patient that side effects are transient
-TENS and other modalities can be used for pain management (be aware of contraindications)
-should not exercise within 2 hours of chemo administration
-balance between rest and exercise
-monitor vitals
-fall prevention

Question 23

Effects of chemotherapy

Answer 23

-immunosuppression
-anemia
-hemorrhage
-cardiac/pulmonary compromise
-neuropathies
-mood changes
-“chemo brain”- foggy or hazy

Question 24

Long term effects of radiation

Answer 24

-skin ulcers 10-20 years after: difficult to heal and painful
-chronic changes in connective tissue
-CNS: dont show up for a year, neuropathies 20-30 years
-OP
-heart/lung disease
-site specific problems
-post surgical MSK problems
-secondary malignancies
-metastases

Question 25

Cancer related Fatigue

Answer 25

Fatigue is the most common reported symptom of cancer and cancer treatment- usually not relieved with rest
-more than 2 weeks duration
-can persist for months and years

Question 26

Causes of cancer related faitgue

Answer 26

-pre-existing conditions
-symptoms caused by cancer/or treatment
-anemia
-sleep disturbances
-cognitive impairments/depression
-pain
-digestive problems/nutrition
-hypothyroidism- decreased metabolism
-build up of toxins left over by killing cells

Question 27

Cancer related fatigue interventions

Answer 27

-education: exercise, decrease stress, deal with depression
-managing possible causes: pain, anemia, sleep disorder, nutrition
-attention restoring activities
-energy conservation
-exercises: those who exercise reported lower levels of fatigue

Question 28

T/F CRF is positively correlated to age

Answer 28

False- the younger the patient the more fatigue

Question 29

Which types of cancers have the highest levels of reported fatigue?

Answer 29

-lung
-GI
-UG
-hematologic

**metasasis is associated with higher levels of fatigue

Question 30

T/F inactivity increased patient’s CRF

Answer 30

True- creates further debilitation