Intro to Oncology - Block 4 Flashcards
What are the the major cancers in males and females?
- Prostate/Breast
- Lung
- Colorectal
What is the most common type of cancer?
Carcinoma
Location of a carcinoma?
Begins in the skin or tissue that lines the inern organs
Where are sarcomas located?
Bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, or connective tissue
Location of leukemia?
Begins in the blood and bone marrow
What are the characterisitcs of a benign tumor?
- Slow metastasis and grow rate
- Localized and encapsulated
- Resemble cells thy developed from
- Rarely requires surgery
Characterisitcs of malignant tumors?
- Metastasize
- Not encapsulated
- Atypical form
- Rapid growth rate
- Recurrence is common
- Cells lose functional ability
What are the warning signs of cancer?
Change in bowel habits
A sore that doesn’t heal
Unusual bleeding or discharge
Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
Obvious change in wart or mole
Nagging cough or hoarseness
Cancer diagnosis is based on what factors
- Obtaining tissue sample (biopsy)
- Pathologic assessment of the tissue
Tissue diagnois is essential because not all tumors are cancerous
What is the importance of staging cancers?
- Provides info on prognosis
- Guides tx selection
What are the components of a staginng workup?
- Physical examination
- Biopsy
- Imaging tests (CT, PET, MRI, X rays)
- Labs (tumor markers)
What is the most common staging for solid tumors
T: tumor (T1-4)
N: node (N0-N3)
M: metastases (M0-M1)
What is the difference between stage 1 and 4 cancer?
Stage 1: localized
Stage 4: Metastasis
What are the tx goals for cancer tx?
Cure
Prolong survival
Palliative care:
* Reduce tumor size
* Slow tumor growth
* Reduce sx
What are cancer tx types? What are their indications?
- Surgery (localized)
- Radiation (localized)
- Chemotherapy (systemic)
- Biologic therapy (systemic)