MT & Cancer (Part 1) Flashcards

1
Q

What is a common trend related to hemorrhage in cancer patients?

A

Cancer patients tend to experience hemorrhage due to epithelial rupture and chronic blood loss, which can lead to anemia and ischemic occurrences.

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2
Q

How are clotting abnormalities exhibited in cancer patients?

A

Cancer patients may experience either decreased clotting (leading to hemorrhage) or increased clotting (raising the risk of thrombosis and embolism).

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3
Q

Why do cancer patients often suffer from immunosuppression and infection?

A

Cancer weakens the immune system, increasing susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

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4
Q

What are examples of enigmatic tissue damage and poor resolution of injury in cancer patients?

A

Cancer may cause unresolved injuries or illnesses, spontaneous fractures, or unexplained tissue damage.

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5
Q

Is fever a common symptom of cancer?

A

Yes, fever can occur with or without the presence of infection.

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6
Q

What is cachexia, and how does it manifest in cancer patients?

A

Cachexia is marked weight loss and tissue wasting due to poor appetite (anorexia), parasitic nutrient consumption by the cancer, and catabolic muscle and organ tissue breakdown, especially in later stages.

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7
Q

What digestive disturbances are common in cancer patients?

A

Cancer can cause malabsorption, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

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8
Q

How does cancer affect hormone secretion?

A

Cancer can lead to abnormal hormone secretion, including ectopic hormonal production and either increased or decreased hormone levels.

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9
Q

Describe the pain experienced by cancer patients.

A

Pain is not typical in early stages but becomes more intense in later stages, often exacerbated by psychological stress.

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10
Q

What types of skin lesions are common in cancer patients?

A

Cancer-related skin lesions include pigmentation changes, erythema (red rash-like areas), and sometimes breakthrough bleeding.

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11
Q

What are common nervous system complications in cancer patients?

A

Nervous system complications may include brain metastasis, metabolic effects on the nervous system, and major signs of NS dysfunction, seen in 1 in 5 patients with disseminated cancer.

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12
Q

How does cancer affect other vital organs?

A

Cancer can lead to complications in the liver, heart, kidneys, and lungs, often due to metastasis and abnormal or diminished organ functions.

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13
Q

What are the four mechanisms through which cancers spread?

A
  1. Progressive direct local invasion of nearby structures.
  2. Through body cavities.
  3. To distant sites via the bloodstream (hematogenous metastasis).
  4. To distant sites via the lymphatic system (lymphogenous metastasis).
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14
Q

What motivates ongoing research into cancer metastasis?

A

Metastasis is almost always the cause of cancer death, making it crucial to understand its processes for improving treatment and prognosis.

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15
Q

What role does metastasis play in cancer prognosis?

A

Prognosis is typically based on the degree of or likelihood of metastasis.

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16
Q

Which type of metastasis is involved in the majority of lethal cancers?

A

Blood circulation metastasis.

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17
Q

How does the survival rate change with lymphogenous metastasis?

A

• Good prognosis with prompt treatment when cancer is limited to local lymph node spread.
• Survival rate decreases with increasingly distant lymphogenous metastasis, as neoplastic cells eventually join the bloodstream.

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18
Q

Why is it important to consider whether massage therapy could promote cancer metastasis?

A

Massage therapy and related modalities like hydrotherapy and therapeutic exercise can act as strong stimuli to blood and lymph flow, potentially influencing metastatic processes.

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19
Q

What are the seven steps involved in hematogenous spread of cancer?

A
  1. Cell shedding from the primary tumour.
  2. Permeation through poor-quality tumour blood vessels into vessel lumina and the bloodstream.
  3. Transport of tumour cells in the bloodstream, often aggregating to increase survival chances.
  4. Impact in the first capillary network encountered.
  5. Destruction, adherence to blood vessel walls, or continued travel to subsequent sites.
  6. Penetration through capillary walls into the tissue interstitium.
  7. Secondary tumour growth at the new site.
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20
Q

How does the poor quality of tumour blood vessels affect hematogenous spread?

A

It facilitates permeation, allowing tumour cells to pass through blood vessel walls into their lumina and enter the bloodstream.

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21
Q

What increases tumour cells’ chances of success during transport in the bloodstream?

A

Tumour cells may aggregate, increasing their chances of survival and success.

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22
Q

What are the seven steps involved in lymphogenous spread of cancer?

A
  1. Cell shedding from the primary tumour.
  2. Movement of cells into the interstitial space of the host or nearby structures.
  3. Penetration into lymph capillaries or being picked up by them, entering small lymph vessels.
  4. Travel to regional lymph nodes.
  5. Destruction by immune system cells or proliferation within the lymph node. Tumour cells may enter the bloodstream via nodal capillaries.
  6. Passage to the right lymphatic duct or thoracic duct.
  7. Entry to the bloodstream, where hematogenous spread can then occur.
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23
Q

How do tumour cells spread from lymph nodes to the bloodstream?

A

Tumour cells can enter the bloodstream via nodal capillaries or after passing through the right lymphatic and thoracic ducts.

24
Q

What happens to tumour cells after traveling to regional lymph nodes in lymphogenous spread?

A

• They may be destroyed by immune system cells.
• They may proliferate within the node.
• Cells can also enter the bloodstream through nodal capillaries.

25
Q

What must anaplastic cells undergo before they can exhibit metastatic behavior?

A

They must complete a set of additional genetic mutations.

26
Q

Can all anaplastic cells in a cancerous tumour metastasize?

A

No, only some cells in the tumour population acquire the necessary mutations to metastasize.

27
Q

Does massage therapy influence the genetic changes needed for metastasis?

A

No, massage therapy cannot influence these genetic changes.

28
Q

What did Fidler’s 1978 study reveal about the survival of metastatic cancer cells?

A

• Most injected radiolabeled cancer cells were destroyed within 24 hours.
• Less than 0.1% remained viable after three days.
• These findings have been confirmed in other high-quality studies.

29
Q

What happens during Stage 1: Cell Shedding from the Primary Tumour in metastasis?

A

• Tumour cells shed at rates and time frames characteristic of their cancer type.
•’Only a percentage of cells are capable of the “splitting off” mechanism, which varies between cancers.

30
Q

Can massage therapy or hydrotherapy enhance the potential for cell shedding from a tumour?

A

• Intense direct pressure or strong stimuli could traumatize the tumour and promote cell release.
• Intense movement or highly stimulating hydrotherapy might also increase cell shedding beyond the tumour’s customary rate.

31
Q

What factors increase the risk of cell shedding during massage therapy?

A

The proximity of the tumour to the skin surface.
Application of sufficient direct pressure or intense local stimuli.

32
Q

What precautions should massage therapists take when working with clients with cancer?

A

• Avoid direct pressure and intense local stimuli at the site of a known tumour.
• Consider that most tumours may not be directly accessible to palpation.
• Recognize that tumours are often removed by the time massage therapy is being used.

33
Q

Why might biomechanical processes during massage or hydrotherapy increase metastasis risk?

A

Biomechanical processes or manipulation could drive a large number of cancer cells into circulation, potentially increasing the risk of metastasis.

34
Q

What is the survival rate of metastatic cells in the bloodstream?

A

Under 1%, due to several hostile factors in circulation.

35
Q

What are the hostile factors in the bloodstream that lead to the destruction of metastatic cells?

A
  1. Intense attack by the host’s immune system.
  2. Inability of sessile (non-motile) cancer cells to absorb nutrients in circulation.
  3. Trauma from the continuous tumbling effects of movement.
36
Q

Does increased blood or lymph flow aid the survival of circulating cancer cells?

A

Evidence suggests not, as the bloodstream and lymph channels are highly antagonistic environments, and increased flow is as likely to jeopardize cell survival as support it.

37
Q

If increased circulation posed a risk for metastasis, what other activities would carry equivalent risks?

A

• Hot showers
• Exercise
• Sexual activity
• Many other aspects of daily life

38
Q

Are individuals with cancer encouraged to exercise? Why or why not?

A

Yes, because regular exercise is associated with:

• A neutral or slightly lower metastasis risk.
• Improved physical and emotional resilience.
• Better ability to fight cancer and manage stress.

39
Q

How might promoting circulatory efficiency, especially lymph flow, benefit individuals with cancer?

A

It may aid the immune response by encouraging better eradication of cancerous cells, though this argument is primarily based on personal opinion and clinical observation.

40
Q

What does current research suggest about manual lymph drainage (MLD) techniques and cancer spread?

A

• MLD generally does not enhance cancer spread.
• Specific cancer types or stages in the metastatic process may warrant avoiding or delaying MLD.

41
Q

What are the benefits of massage therapy for individuals with cancer in terms of circulation?

A

Massage therapy, like exercise, may have a neutral or potentially beneficial impact by supporting physical and emotional health, which correlates with better cancer resilience.

42
Q

What happens during Stage 3 of metastasis?

A

Stage 3 involves the potential for implantation of surviving metastatic cells in the capillary network of a secondary site.

43
Q

What are the main factors contributing to cancer cell morbidity at Stage 3?

A
  1. Host immune cell activity.
  2. Inability of some cancer cells to proliferate in unsuitable tissue environments.
44
Q

Could massage therapy increase the likelihood of cancer cell implantation at secondary sites?

A

There is concern that massage could mechanically push more cells into capillary beds, increasing the potential for implantation.

45
Q

Do cancer cells always develop secondary tumors at the first small vessels encountered?

A

No, cancer cells tend to establish themselves in specific tissues that meet their needs rather than randomly developing in the first capillary beds.

46
Q

What factors influence the tissue preference of metastatic cancer cells?

A
  1. Homing ability: Cancer cells are attracted to environments conducive to their needs.
  2. Enzymatic capability: Some cancers lack enzymes to destroy certain tissue matrices or basement membranes.
  3. Endothelium affinity: Some cancers prefer specific endothelial tissues.
  4. Growth factors: Some organs lack the necessary growth factors for certain cancers.
47
Q

How does the pattern of metastasis formation vary among cancers?

A

Each cancer has a characteristic pattern of metastasis based on its tissue affinities, which is well-documented and can be researched.

48
Q

Should massage therapists take precautions regarding circulatory stimulation near predicted metastasis sites?

A

A cautious approach might be appropriate, especially for superficial metastasis sites (e.g., axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer), but this has limited value since most metastases occur in vital organs where blood flow is not easily controlled.

49
Q

Why does increased circulation from massage therapy have limited impact on the formation of secondary tumors in vital organs?

A

Vital organs naturally experience a higher rate of blood flow, which cannot be significantly altered by increased general circulation.

50
Q

What is the highest risk correlation for massage therapy potentially promoting metastasis?

A

The highest risk arises with firm direct contact or other strong stimuli applied near a tumor, especially if the tumor is close to the skin surface.

51
Q

Why is the risk from firm contact near a tumor greatly offset?

A

Even if cells are released by such means, the odds of their survival in circulation are extremely slim.

52
Q

What is the best course of action for massage therapists regarding tumor locations?

A
  1. Obtain as much information as possible about known tumor locations.
  2. Avoid deep pressure and intense local modalities near the tumor.
53
Q

When might massage therapists approach predicted metastasis sites with caution?

A
  1. At the cancer diagnosis point, especially for accessible predicted metastasis sites.
  2. During the postsurgical week when immune resilience is lower, particularly if there was a positive margin finding.
54
Q

Are fears about increased blood and lymph circulation promoting metastasis valid?

A

No, fears are unfounded. Increased circulation from massage therapy may actually mitigate the survival of cancer cells in these media.

55
Q

What should massage therapists do when in doubt about a patient’s condition?

A

Consult appropriate healthcare professionals to ensure safety.

56
Q

Why is the patient’s attitude and beliefs about massage therapy important?

A

Cancer survivorship is multifaceted, and the patient’s perspective on massage therapy’s role in their treatment program should be respected.