Ch 50 Cancer Flashcards
Malignant neoplasm or cancer
Abnormal and unrestricted growth of cells that can invade and destroy surrounding normal body tissues
Benign
Not malignant or cancerous
Metastasize
Spread to distant sites
Benign neoplasm or benign tumor
Usually circumscribed and encapsulated; usually grows slowly; composed of cells that resemble tissue from which it arises
Oncology
Medicine branch that studies / treats cancer
Oncologist
Physician specialist who treats patients with cancer
Cancer is not a single disease but a
Broad classification of more than 100 types of diseases
A malignant neoplasm typically infiltrates locally and also has the potential to metastasize or spread to distant sites. The cells are usually
Atypical or dysplastic and may not resemble the parent tissue
Incidence of cancer
-of estimated 609,640 deaths annually from cancer, 190,509 deaths are caused by cigarette smoking
-approximately 87% of newly diagnosed cancer cases occur among people who are 55 years old and older
-health disparities have a negative impact on cancer incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality for some members of racial and ethnic minority groups
-other factors such as geographic location, income, education level, and a higher incidence of negative health behaviours can also disproportionately affect cancer prevention, detection and treatment
Risk factors associated with cancer
-carcinogenic (cancer causing): may be environmental, behavioural, viral or genetic
-environmental carcinogenic agents: alcohol, chemical exposure, radon, radiation sunlight, hormones, asbestos
-behavioural factors that could lead to the development of cancer: tobacco use, alcohol use, overweight or obesity, poor nutrition, inactivity
Viral links to cancer
Hepatitis B, human immunodeficiency virus, human papillomavirus, and helicobacter pylori
In recent years the human papilllomavirus (HPV) has been identified as the primary causative agent for
Oropharyngeal and cervical cancers
Risk factors associated with cancer: genetic factors
Result in potential genetic damage
Common signs of oral cancer
-a swelling, lump, growth or area of induration or hardness anywhere in or about the mouth or neck that is usually painless
-erythroplakia patch (velvety, deep red)
-leukoplakia patch (white or red and white patch)
-any sore (ulcer, irritation) that does not heal after 2 weeks
-repeated bleeding from the mouth or throat
-difficulty swallowing or persistent hoarseness
Oral cancer risk factors
-use of tobacco products (primarily smoked)
-prior oral cancer lesion
-excessive use of alcohol
-older age
-frequent sun exposure
-low consumption of fruits and vegetables
-HPV
Oral complications of many cancer therapies
Oral mucositis
Neurotoxicity
Infection
Bleeding or hemorrhage
Xerostomia or salivary gland dysfunction
Dental caries or demineralization
Altered tooth development
Potential complications from radiation to the head and neck: acute
Xerostomia
Loss of taste
Mucositis
Dysphagia
Secondary infection
Trismus
Impaired nutrition
Hearing loss
Fatigue
Potential complications from radiation to the head and neck: chronic
-Xerostomia or salivary gland dysfunction
-alterations in sense of taste as compared with pre radiation status
-telangiectasia and friable mucosa
-continued fungal infections caused by lack of saliva
-osteoradionecrosis or soft tissue necrosis
-rampant caries
-muscle fibrosis, TMD, trismus
-layered tooth and jaw development in children
Common signs and symptoms of cancer
-changes in bowel or bladder habits
-a sore that does not heal
-unusual bleeding or discharge
-thickening or a lump in breast or elsewhere
-indigestion or difficulty swallowing
-obvious changes in a wart or mole
-nagging cough or hoarseness
Increased incidence of HPV-related cancers are primarily found in the
Tongue and oropharyngeal area of adults younger than 45 years
Approximately 9 of every 10 oral malignancies are
Squamous cell carcinomas
Oropharyngeal (sometimes called head and neck) cancers are found in the
Posterior part of the mouth and include the back third or base of the tongue, soft palate, lingual and palatine tonsils, and posterior pharyngeal wall
___ is a very important component of dental hygiene care, as do continued efforts to educate the public about this life threatening cancer
Oral cancer screening
HPV-oropharyngeal/head and neck cancer connection
HPV: most common sexually transmitted infection
-identified as causative agent for almost all cervical cancers
-thought to cause 70% of oropharyngeal cancers
-girls and women up to 26 yrs old and boy and men up to 21 yrs old should be vaccinated
Most common site for oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas are
Lateral borders and ventral surfaces of tongue and floor of the mouth
Benign and malignant tumor can be confirmed by performing a
Surgical biopsy
Forms of cancer therapy
The choice of cancer treatment depends on the type and stage of cancer
Types of Trx include
-surgery
-radiation therapy
-chemotherapy
-immunotherapy
-targeted therapy
-hormone therapy
-bone marrow and blood stem cell transplant
-precision medicine
Cancer therapy may include one or a combination of the following
Chemotherapy
Bone marrow and blood transplantation
Radiation
Surgery
Hormone therapy
Immunotherapy
What is the goal in cancer treatment
To remove or totally destroy the malignant cells from the body
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy involves a high dose of
Targeted radiation to kill or shrink tumors by damaging the DNA, rendering the cancer cells unable to reproduce leading to cell death
Chemotherapy
He’s of toxic drugs to stop or slow the growth of quickly dividing cancer cells
Immunotherapy
Using antibody drugs is an innovative group of cancer therapies that do not directly kill cells but rather use the patients own immune system to destroy the cancer cells
Hormone therapy
Slows or stops the growth of tumours that depends on hormones such as breast or prostate cancer by preventing the production or normal functioning of hormones
Stem cell transplantation
Sometimes referred to as a bone marrow transplant (BMT) is the placement of the healthy bone marrow into the bone cavity of the cancer patient to restore blood forming stem cells following chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Precision medicine
Approach to cancer therapy based on a genetic assessment of the patients disease
Unfortunately treatments available today are not able to
Target only the cancer cells and normal healthy cells must sometimes be destroyed during treatment. This may result in significant psychological stress and physical morbidity
