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MS1 > Intro to cancer > Flashcards

Intro to cancer Flashcards

1
Q

mitosis

A

-cell splits into 2 genetically identical daughter cells

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2
Q

meiosis

A

cell splits but keeps only half the genetic chromosomes

-only occurs in sex cells of testes and ovaries

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3
Q

differentiation

A

normal process where cells change in order to specialize for certain body functions

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4
Q

hyperplasia

A

increase in number or density of normal cells

-either replicated too fast or arent dying on schedule

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5
Q

metaplasia

A

change in the normal pattern of cell differentiation

-cell that isnt where it should be

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6
Q

dysplasia

A

cells differentiate in abnormal ways

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7
Q

What is cancer?

A
  • classification of many diseases
  • can affect many different types of cells or body systems
  • can affect anyone though there are risk factors
  • marked by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells
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8
Q

What is a tumor?

A
  • also called neoplasm
  • a mass of new tissue which grows independently from surrounding tissues and has no function
  • cells grow at rates which are uncoordinated
  • share properties of parents but altered shape/size/sometimes function
  • provide no benefit and may be harmful
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9
Q

Tumors still require..

A

blood, oxygen, and nutrients

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10
Q

benign tumors are

A

not cancerous

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11
Q

some characteristics of benign tumors include:

A
  • localized growth
  • have solid, well defined borders
  • stop growing when they reach the border of other tissues (called inhibition)
  • grow slowly and remain stable in size
  • usually easy to remove and dont recur
  • can still cause problems (crowding, obstruction, etc.)
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12
Q

Malignant tumors

A
  • primarily what we think of when referring to cancer
  • grow aggressively and everywhere
  • irregular in shape and no defined borders
  • cut through other tissue causing injury and crowds out healthy cells
  • varying degrees of differentiation from parent cells (minor —> extreme)
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13
Q

malignant cells arise from

A
  • unregulated mitosis
  • loss of specialization and differentiation
  • no contact inhibition
  • progressive mutations leads to greater deviation and sometimes immortality
  • altered cell structure/function
  • simple metabolic activity, only care about mitosis
  • transplantabilty- able to break away and grow somewhere else
  • promote own survival- create vascular and support structures for own use- difficult to remove
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14
Q

angiogensis is a

A

normal body function that creates new blood vessels from old.

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15
Q

A key difference between malignant and benign tumors is

A

benign tumors do not undergo angiogenesis.

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16
Q

an invasion of cancerous tissue could cause

A

-pressure atrophy, which means that as the cancer cells grow the healthy tissue dies off

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17
Q

other issues with invasion

A
  • degradation of barriers between tissues
  • cancer cells easily separate
  • chemotaxis- cells breakdown, drawing phagocytes to clean up; which attracts other cancer cells
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18
Q

The process where cancer cells spread from their primary site to distant organs and tissues

A

metastasis

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19
Q

How does metastasis occur?

A

as malignant cells spread they access the vascular and lymphatic systems (even possibly creating their own) allowing for spread to distant parts of the body.
-the majority of cancers have already metastasized by the time they are discovered

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20
Q

Etiology

A
  • several theories have been identified to explain the origins of cancer.
  • 2 primary factors central to all
21
Q

what are the 2 primary theories of the origins of cancer?

A
  • Carcinogens

- immune impairment

22
Q

carcinogens

A
  • substances which can cause genetic mutation in cells through exposure
  • other factors like genetics, immune response, exposure to viruses, etc., all contribute to carcinogens
23
Q

immune impairment

A

lessons the body’s ability to fight and control abnormal cell growth

24
Q

who is exposed to carcinogens?

A

everyone at some point; can internal or external
internal- inherited mutations, hormones, etc
external- chemicals, substances, viruses

25
Q

general risk factors for cancer

A
  • heredity
  • age
  • gender
  • poverty
  • stress
  • diet
  • occupation
  • infections
  • tobacco/alcohol use
  • recreational drug use
  • obesity
  • sun exposure
26
Q

initiation

A

cancer cells arise from “normal” cells due to a change in the cell’s genetic structure

  • a mutation occurs in the cells DNA
  • these mutations can be inherited via a genetic link from parents or acquired during life due to exposure to carcinogens
27
Q

promotion

A
  • a single genetic alteration is not enough to cause cancer
  • exposure to promoting agents (carcinogens) causes mutations to express themselves and/or mutated cells to proliferate
  • some carcinogens functions as both initiators and promoters*
28
Q

progression

A
  • cancer cells increase in proliferation rate
  • formation of a tumor
  • spread of cancer cells outside of tumor-metastasis, angiogenesis, etc
29
Q

Initiators cause

A

cellular mutation

30
Q

carcinogen exposure causes

A

expression of mutant genes

-AKA promotion

31
Q

progression is the

A

increasing malignant behavior and spread

32
Q

prevention

A
  • avoid exposure to carcinogens/ reduce risk factors
  • follow workplace safety guidelines
  • general life style changes: quit smoking, limit drinking, eat healthy, wear sunscreen, limit sun exposure, exercise, stress reduction
33
Q

diagnostic tests

A
  • -imaging (X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasounds, angiography)
  • -cytology
  • -tumor markers
  • -visualization (colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, etc)
  • -lab test (blood, urine, etc)
34
Q

what is cytology?

A
  • tissue sample taken from fluid aspiration, biopsy, etc.

- only a cytological examination of cells will reveal differences in tumor cell from normal parent cells

35
Q

what is a tumor marker?

A

biochemical indicators of tumors which can be found in all body tissue types when tumors are present

36
Q

What is grading and how is it measured?

A

-level of differentiation from the parent cell

grades 1-4, 4 is least differentiated (furthest from the parent cell)

37
Q

staging is the

A

size and spread of the tumor; TNM
Tumor: size of tumor
Nodes: lymph node involvement (number of nodes)
Metastasis: spread to other areas. M0=still localized; higher number= more body areas affected

38
Q

Medical treatments

A

surgery
pharmacological (chemotherapy)
radiation (EBR, pelets, etc.)
often 2 or more treatments used in conjuction

39
Q

nursing care post surgery

A

-general post-op care (ambulation, pain control, etc.)
-TCDB (turn, cough, deep breath)
-monitor for bleeding (esp bright red)
-infection control (prophylactic antibiotics, washing hands, keeping site clean)
-PE
-DVT
provide psychological therapy

40
Q

nursing care for chemo

A
  • antineoplastic meds- inhibit DNA and/or RNA production or replication
    • alkylating, antibiotics, antimetabolites (all work by inhibiting cell growth)
  • hormones
  • antianemics
41
Q

alkylating agents

A
  • change pH which leads to cell death
  • busulfan
  • cyclophosphamide
42
Q

antibiotics

A
  • bleomycin

- dactinomycin

43
Q

antimetabolites

A
  • prevent metabolism
  • fluorouracil
  • methotrexate
44
Q

hormones

A

block hormones used for cancer cell growth

45
Q

antianemics

A

help support RBCs, correct anemia

46
Q

General chemo side effects

A

GI upsets: N/V/D/Dry mouth
Alopecia (loss of hair)
Fatigue
Anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia

47
Q

Chemo drugs target

A

quickly replicating cells because thats what cancer cells are.
-reason for GI upset:the cells that line the SI/LI/Mucous membranes grow and replicate quickly

48
Q

nursing care for chemo cont,

A
  • infection control/neutropenic precautions
  • promote fluid intake and nutrition
  • monitor kidney, liver function esp. with antineoplastic meds
  • activity intolerance
  • be careful handling/ administering chemo drugs
  • educate on side effects/ changes, i.e. urine color changes
  • psychosocial, sexual, and spiritual health

MS1 (4 decks)

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