Heme onc Flashcards
What is the main risk factor for cancer
age
What is the most preventable cause of cancer
Tobacco
If there is a mass in the lower colon. How do you diagnose whether or not its cancer
Biopsy
What is the TNM system for
Staging of cancer
What does TNM stand for in the TNM system
Tumor
Nodes
Metastases
How are tumors rated in the TNM system
TX: Primary tumor cannot be evaluated
TO: No evidence of primary
Tis: Carcinoma in situ
T1-T4: Size & depth
How are nodes rated in the TNM system
NX: Nodes cannot be evaluated
N0: No regional nodes involved
N1-N3: Size and number involved
How is metastasis measured with the TNM system
M0: no evidence of metastatic disease
M1: presence of metastatic disease
What is the difference between clinical and pathologic staging
Clinical: Based on physical exam
Pathologic: Based on bx and surgery
What will be seen on blood work for prostate cancer
PSA
*Prostate specific antigen
What will be seen on bloodwork for ovarian cancer
CA125
*Cancer antigen 125
What will be seen on blood work with medullary thyroid cancer
Calcitonin
What will be seen on blood work for liver cancer
AFP
*Alpha-fetoprotein
What will be seen on blood work with germ cell tumors
HCG
*Human chorionic gonadotropin
When are cancer markers taken with blood work
After the biopsy confirmation results
What is adjuvant therapy
Therapy given after primary tumor has been removed
What is Neo-adjuvant therapy
Therapy even before the primary tumor has been removed
What are local therapy treatment options for cancer
Surgery
radiation therapy
What is systemic therapy for cancer
Chemo
Biologic
What are the 3 main types of radiation therapy for cancer
External beam
Brachytherapy
Systemic
How does external beam therapy work with radiation
Beams of radiation aimed at a tumor within a patient
*Gamma knife
how does brachytherapy work with radiation
Encapsulated source of radiation implanted into a tumor
*Seeds
How does the systemic radiation treatment work
Inject radio nucleotides that are targeted to a tumor
*Thyroid cancer
What are some short term side effects of radiaton therapy
Burns
Bone marrow toxicity
mucositis
What are some chronic radiation therapy side effects
Thyroid failure
MI
Pulmonary fibrosis
Cataracts
When is chemo most commonly used
Breast and prostate cancer
What are some side effects of chemo and what are the side effects dependent on
Neuropathy
Cold intolerance
Hair loss
N/V
Cardiac toxicity
*depend on drugs and doses
What occurs when a neutropenic patient becomes febrile
Medical emergency -> can be fatal
*Temp: >100.4 for an hour or single temp of 101
When a neutropenic patient becomes febrile, what must happen
they need to be admitted into the hospital and receive broad spectrum antibiotics
Which antibiotics are best course of action for a neutropenic patients that are hospitalized for fever
anti-psuedomonal
-tazobactam
-piperacillin
What is the difference between hospice and palliative care
Hospice is end of life care
Palliative helps with illness related suffering
What is the framework for palliative care
Goals of care is directed by the patients values and preference
Where do terminal patients prefer to die
At home
What is the major benefit of hospice care
Significantly better quality of life for patients and families
What are some advance directives
Living will
Durable power of attorney for health care
DNR
Physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST)
What is a living will
Document that describes the treatments that the patient does or does not want in the event of a terminal illness or vegetative state
When is a living will effective
Only when a patient was unable to communicate
