Exam 5: Nursing Care of Cancer Patients Flashcards
Neoplasm
cells that reproduce abnormally
Benign
cluster of cells NOT normal to the body that are NOT cancerous
Malignant
group of cells that grow out of an organ and are poorly differentiated, poorly constructed, and multiply rapidly
Metastasis
term used to describe the spread of a tumor from it’s primary site into seperate and distant areas
Alopecia
hair loss
anemia
abnormally low red blood cells
anorexia
lack or loss of appetite for food, leads to malnutrition and low body weight
biopsy
accurate identification of cancer by removal of tissue from the body
carcinogen
substance that increases the risk of cancer by cellular change
contact inhibition
growth regulating signals in the cells surrounding environment
cytotoxic
drugs that work by targeting the damaging cells that grow at a rapid rate
desquamation
flaky, peeling skin, leading to a loss of the upper skin
in situ
neoplastic cells that remain in one area which are considered localized
leukopenia
decrease in white blood cells
neutropenic
presence of abnormally few neutrophils in the blood
mucositis
painful inflammation and ulceration of the mucus membranes
oncology
branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tumors or malignancies
oncovirus
rNA type viruses
palliation
symptom control
stomatitis
inflammation of the mouth
thrombocytopenia
abnormally low blood platelets
xerostomia
dry mouth
cancer pathophysiology
Cancer is NOT just one disease but many different diseases with different causes, manifestations, treatments and prognoses, there are MORE than 100 types of cancer. Cancer cells do not have a LIMIT to cell division, they are immortal.
Cancer Etiology
Cancer cell growth and reproduction involve three steps:
Initiation: result of an alteration in the genetic structure of the Cell (DNA)
Promotion: occurs after repeated exposure to carcinogens causing the cells to mutate, a tumor forms from mutated cells in this process
Progression: further genetic mutations occur, leads to metastasis.