Cancer Treatment

Question 1

what are the tree major treatments for cancer

Answer 1

surgery
radiation therapy
chemotherapy

Question 2

what is the most frequent treatment of cancer

Answer 2

surgery

Question 3

if a cancer pt gets surgery and also wants to get chemo, how long should they wait to get chemo after surgery

Answer 3

they need to wait 2 mnths to allow body to heal

Question 4

What are the types of diagnostic surgery/tissue biopsy

Answer 4

shave
punch
incisional
excisional
fine needle
core needle

Question 5

what do they do in a shave biopsy

Answer 5

shave off spot on top of skin

Question 6

what do they do in a punch biopsy

Answer 6

punch down into skin to get a sample of layers of skin along with outer layer of skin

Question 8

what is a fine needle biopsy

Answer 8

aspirate fluid from tumor to look @ cells

Question 9

what is a core needle biopsy

Answer 9

brings out a core specimen

Question 10

what are the names for the three primary surgical treatments

Answer 10

debulking
radical excisions
salvage surgery

Question 11

what is debulking

Answer 11

remove as much of tumor as possible

Question 12

what is radical excision

Answer 12

can be disfiguring and alter functioning

Question 13

what is salvage surgery

Answer 13

extensive surgery to site at which previous therapies have failed

Question 14

what is prophylactic surgery

Answer 14

removal of non-vital tissues/organs that may develop cancer

Question 15

what is pallative surgery

Answer 15

pain relief and not intended to cure or treat the cancer

Question 16

what is reconstructive surgery

Answer 16

trying to repair injury or loss of function from curative or radical surgeries

Question 17

what is the goal of radiation and chemotherapy treatment

Answer 17

eliminate cancerous cells

Question 18

what cells do radiation and chemotherapy treatments affect

Answer 18

rapidly proliferating cells

Question 19

what is the treatment choice for localized cancer

Answer 19

radiation therapy

Question 20

what is the lethal tumor dose

Answer 20

amount required to eradicate 95% of tumor and simultaneously salvage normal tissue

Question 21

the total radiation dose is admined over a period of ___

Answer 21

weeks

Question 22

why is radiation administered over a period of several weeks

Answer 22

to allow healthy tissue to recover

Question 23

what are the three factors that affect radiation dosage

Answer 23

radiosensitivity of the tumor
normal tissue tolerance
volume of tissue to be irradiated

Question 24

what does radiosensitivity of the tumor mean

Answer 24

dependent on presence of oxygen

Question 25

what does normal tissue tolerance mean

Answer 25

point at which normal tissues are irreparably damaged

Question 26

what does volume of tissue to be irradiated

Answer 26

total prescribed dose usually divided into several smaller doses

Question 27

how many treatments are given per week

Answer 27

5 days per week

Question 28

are treatments done daily

Answer 28

usually

Question 29

On avg how many treatments are done per week

Answer 29

25-30

Question 30

what are the benefits of radiation therapy

Answer 30

used before surgery to shrink tumors intra-op radiation given before, during, or after chemo palliative (shrink tumors and pain-relief)

Question 31

where does radiation toxicity occur

Answer 31

localized to area of treatment

Question 32

can radiation toxicity be higher if radiation is used alongside of chemo

Answer 32

yes

Question 33

what are the general effects of radiation

Answer 33

fatigue anemia N/V Thrombocytopenia (low platelets)

Question 34

There are two types of radiation, what are they

Answer 34

external (teletherapy) internal (brachytherapy)

Question 35

what is brachytherapy

Answer 35

internal radiation at site where cancer is

Question 36

when a radiation therapy pt has sealed implants they should avoid what two groups of people

Answer 36

pregnant people and small children

Question 37

when a cancer pt does have sealed implants the body usually does ____ give off radiation

Answer 37

not

Question 38

when a radiation therapy pt has unsealed implants their body will give off ____

Answer 38

radiation

Question 39

when a radiation therapy pt has unsealed implants their body fluids will be ___ and they will be on ____

Answer 39

contaminated isolation

Question 40

what is the number one side effect of radiation

Answer 40

fatigue

Question 41

what should we teach a pt when they have brachytherapy

Answer 41

avoid close contact with others until treatment done no contact w/ pregnant woman bed rest to prevent dislodging of radiation device maintain balanced diet, consider small, frequent meals maintain fluid intake to emsure adequate hydration: 2-3 liters/day

Question 42

what are the side effects of radiation

Answer 42

fatigue-#1 skin changes alopecia immunosupression radiation pneumonia ulceration of oral mucous membranes GI: N/V, diarrhea

Question 43

what should we teach a pt when they are having radiation therapy

Answer 43

was treat area with tepid water & soft wash cloth no application of heat or cold packs to area use electric razor only do not use any products to sites during treatments do not remove treatment markings on skin avoid wearing tight-fitting, starched, or stiff clothing over treatment area

Question 44

what is the goal of chemotherapy

Answer 44

to kill cancerous cells while preserving other, more healthy cells

Question 45

what is chemo given through

Answer 45

a port

Question 46

when we are accessing a port what should we do before running a med through the port

Answer 46

check for blood return

Question 47

who can admin chemo meds

Answer 47

only chemo certified RN

Question 48

how long are the drugs excreted in the body fluids for

Answer 48

up to 48 hrs

Question 49

what labs do we need to monitor closely when giving chemo

Answer 49

wbcs rbcs h&h platelets

Question 50

make sure to teach chemo pts, family & visitors that hand washing is ___

Answer 50

crucial

Question 51

for 48-72 hrs after chemo we need to teach the pt to flush toilets how many times after use

Answer 51

twice

Question 52

how often should we rinse the toilets with bleach after a chemo pt uses them

Answer 52

once/day

Question 53

when a caregiver comes in contact with the chemo pt they need to wear gloves especially when handling ____ fluids and contaminated _____

Answer 53

body laundry

Question 54

for 48-72 hrs after chemo the pt should avoid ____ activity

Answer 54

sexual

Question 55

when a pt has chemo and they choose to have sex they need to use two forms of what

Answer 55

birth control

Question 56

caregivers should always wear ____ when handling chemo drugs

Answer 56

ppe

Question 57

what is the #1 side effect of chemotherapy

Answer 57

N&V

Question 58

what are the other side effects of chemo

Answer 58

alopecia stomatitis pain enteritis diarrhea anemia fatigue myelosupression pancytopenia leukopenia neutropenia thrombocytopenia granulocytopenia

Question 59

we should premedicate a chemo pt with _____ before their treatment

Answer 59

antiemtics

Question 60

we need to monitor chemo pts for ____ because of N/V

Answer 60

dehydration

Question 61

what is anorexia-cachexa syndrome

Answer 61

loss of skeletal muscle and fat not due to starvation unexplained wt loss

Question 62

what is immunosupression

Answer 62

decreased ability to fight infection

Question 63

the risk for infection increases when ____ & _____ decreases

Answer 63

wbc & neutrophils

Question 64

the risk for anemia increases when _____ and _____ decease

Answer 64

rbc & h&h

Question 65

the risk for bleeding increases when _____ decrease

Answer 65

platelets

Question 66

Nadir means a person has reached the ______ point and their blood cell count is at it's ______

Answer 66

lowest and lowest

Question 67

oncologist use nadir to determine when a chemo pt can get their next ____

Answer 67

treatment

Question 68

what is the anc

Answer 68

absolute neutrophil count

Question 69

what is neutropenia

Answer 69

abnormally low anc

Question 70

what causes neutropenia

Answer 70

decreased production of wbc increased destruction of wbc

Question 71

what lab value do we need to monitor when a pt has neutropenia

Answer 71

cbc w/ differential

Question 72

what are neutropenic precautions

Answer 72

wash hands frequently low bacteria diet no fresh fruits or flowers no pets avoid crowds no visitors with infections no immunizations

Question 73

what is thrombocytopenia

Answer 73

decreased levels of platelets in the body

Question 74

what are the reference/normal values for platelets

Answer 74

150,000-400,000

Question 75

what are the critical values for platelets

Answer 75

< 50,000 or > 1 million

Question 76

where are platelets produced

Answer 76

in the bone marrow

Question 77

platelets have to be ____ temp for admin

Answer 77

room

Question 78

what should we educate the pt on when they have thrombocytopenia

Answer 78

monitor stools/urine bleeding use electric razors only apply ice to affected area if trauma occurs avoid dental work or other invasive procedures avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing products soft toothbrush and no flossing no aspirin

Question 79

what do we need to monitor when a pt has thrombocytopenia

Answer 79

monitor platelet count monitor stools and urine for occult blood

Question 80

what should we assess skin for when a pt has thrombocytopenia

Answer 80

ecchymosis petechiae trauma

Question 81

educate thrombocytopenia pt on

Answer 81

bleeding

Question 82

we should avoid what injections and what punctures

Answer 82

IM injections and venipunctures

Question 83

what is chemo brain

Answer 83

mental fog caused by chemo, radiation, some types of immunotherapy

Question 84

in order to help pts with memory we should encourage pts to do what

Answer 84

use a calendar write down everything exercise brain with puzzles/crosswords get physical exercise ask for support from family, friends, etc

Question 85

what is ascites

Answer 85

fluid in peritoneal cavity

Question 86

ascites is usually a ____ sign of cancer and usually a poor ____

Answer 86

late prognosis