How To Treat Cancers By Knowing About Their Pathology - 06/11/23

Question 1

Does basal cell carcinoma spread?

Answer 1

No! It’s a cancer of the skin only and invades locally - it never spreads to other parts of the body

Question 2

Define carcinoma

Answer 2

Malignant cancer of the epithelium

Question 3

What is leukaemia?

Answer 3

Malignant tumour of white blood cells

Question 4

Where do carcinomas spread?

Answer 4

Carcinomas spread to lymph nodes that drain the site of the carcinoma

Question 5

Carcinomas can spread through the blood to bone - true or false?

Answer 5

True

Question 6

Which 5 cancers are more commonly spread to bone?

Answer 6

Breast, prostate, lung, thyroid and kidney

Question 7

What is the process for planning the treatment of breast cancer?

Answer 7

• Confirm diagnosis by pathology
• Has it spread to axilla, check via ultrasound? If so, axillary node clearance is needed
• Has it spread to rest of body? If yes, systemic (chemo) therapy needed

Question 8

What is extra treatment after surgery to remove a tumour called? (E.g. if you think there may be micro metastases present not detected on scans)

Answer 8

Adjuvant therapy - could include hormone therapy, chemo therapy, radiotherapy

Question 9

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