Neoplasia & Addiction Flashcards
What is Palliative care?
- An approach to someone’s care
- Recognition that they can’t be cured but that they can be helped
- Suffering is a key component
When is palliative care indicated?
Why is Palliative care important? (4 improved outcomes)
Is palliative care effective?
How to measure success in palliative care pharmacology?
Outcome measures of drug therapy in palliative care:
- Hard to define and measure
- Not curing
- Not reducing disease burden
Therefore outcomes = Subjective patient experience
Who has access to Palliative care? Which factors influence this?
List 10 possible side effects of opioid medications prescribed in palliative care?
When do you need to avoid oral medications in palliative care?
List 4 factors affecting drug gut absorption.
Factors affecting drug gut absorption
- IBD - Crohn’s & UC
- Bowel resection (eg. Tumour removal)
- Iron & Calcium deficiency
- Delayed gastric emptying in Parkinson’s & Diabetes
What impact does reduced body weight in palliative care have on drug elimination?
In which liver diseases should you avoid paracetamol?
When to avoid paracetamol = when transaminases (ALT/AST) are three times upper limit of normal
What affect does deranged liver function have on drug elimination in palliative care?
Example = Targin (oxycodone + naloxone for constipation) – If your liver is not metabolising naloxone, you get a lot of systemic absorption so your pain relief gets skewed.
- Eg. Valproate (seizures or neuropathic pain) = hepatotoxicity
Which organ system is most important to consider when prescribing in palliative care? Which equation should be calculated?
Where and how is morphine metabolised? What is M6G?
How is morphine excreted?
What is Hyperaesthesia?
Hyperaesthesia = allodonia but specific to opioid excess = upregulators to the spinal cord & then positive feedback loops to the brain.
Choose a newer synthetic opioid over morphine if creatinine clearance low.
Which other opioids could you consider in palliative care management of a patient with poor renal function other than morphine?
Oxycodone & Hydromorphone both have renal clearance but have less toxic metabolites than morphine = generally better tolerated.
- Much more potent than morphine, tend to be restricted to palliative/pain specialists
Methadone = all excreted by the liver (hepatically) but needs close monitoring
Fentanyl – not renally excreted but difficult to get hold of outside hospital (Not PBS)
What is the usual half life of most opioids? How can this be managed?
Give 3 examples of Oral SR opioids and 2 examples of Transdermal SR Opioids?
What are SR Oral Opioids usually indicated for?
List 3 advantages of SR opioid formulations?
- Convenience
- Improved compliance
- Less fluctuations in plasma levels
List 4 Disadvantages of SR Opioids?
Eg. Damage to slow release capsule = all of the dose at once = risk of toxicity
Give 3 specific examples of side effects of opioid medications?
Give 2 examples of where medication side effects may benefit a patient in palliative care.
But be careful prescribing off-licence (eg. Mirtazapine for sleep/appetite) – need to be able to defend your prescribing choice.
How do the models of care differ in chronic pain management vs. palliative care in terms of polypharmacy?
This is obviously a different approach in chronic pain management.
List 6 different types of pain.
Emotional experience of the pain is such an important factor in the pain.
Eg. Where is your pain? My pain is everywhere doctor = often indicates suffering emotionally (somatic complaints)
What is the safest first approach to prescribing opiates in an opiate naive patient?
Safest first approach to prescribing opiates in an opiate naïve patient is an immediate release so that if there are problems they can ‘wash out’ quickly.
What are the current screening recommendations for skin cancer?
- A ‘skin check’ can be defined as a comprehensive assessment and examination of an asymptomatic patient for any evidence of skin cancer.
- Current Australian guidelines advise against general population screening for skin cancer, citing the lack of evidence for the feasibility of organised screening and the effectiveness of screening in reducing mortality. Patient self examination with opportunistic screening is the current standard.
- Cancer Council Australia argues against patients having regular or annual skin checks on three grounds: nonmelanoma skin cancer has a low mortality, melanoma frequency does not justify a mass population screening program on economic grounds, and the instrument that would be used for mass screening (GP assessment) is not sufficiently accurate.
Assessment of skin cancer risk:
- High risk? (7)
- Medium risk? (7)
- Low risk? (5)
- How often should each be checked?
What are the top 10 benign lesions of the skin?
The top 10 benign lesions are:
1. Solar keratosis
2. Diffuse superficial actini
3. Porokeratosis
4. Seborrhoeic keratosis (and the benign lichenoid keratosis variant)
5. Benign melanocytic naevus (junctional, compound or intradermal)
6. Chondrodermatitis nodularis helices chronicus
7. Blue naevus
8. Benign fibrous papule
9. Sebaceous hyperplasia
10. Capillary haemangioma
11. Dermatofibroma
What are the current screening recommendations for colorectal cancer?
The recommended strategy for population screening in Australia remains the immunochemical faecal occult blood test, commencing at age 50 years in asymptomatic individuals with no family history of colorectal cancer. This test is to be performed every two years to age 74 years. Individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer will need appropriate risk stratification. Aspirin should now be considered for all patients aged 50–70 years in the prevention of colorectal cancer.
Which tools are used to screen for colorectal cancer?
Colorectal Cancer Risk - Category 1
- Who?
- What should be done?
- How often?
Colorectal Cancer Risk - Category 2
- Who?
- What should be done?
- How often?
Colorectal Cancer Risk - Category 3
- Who?
- What should be done?
- How often?
Colorectal Cancer - Risk stratification based on family history?
Colorectal Cancer - Current screening guidelines based on family history?
What are the follow up recommendations for colorectal cancer screening following polypectomy?
Patients who have adenomatous polyps removed at colonoscopy are then classified as having aboveaverage risk for the development of metachronous adenomatous polyps and CRC.
What are the current screening recommendations for lung cancer?
Neither low-dose CT scanning nor chest X-ray are currently recommended for population-based screening for lung cancer in Australia.
- See Position Statement: Lung Cancer Screening using Low-Dose Computed Tomography
What are the current screening recommendations for breast cancer?
Mammographic screening for women at average or slightly above average risk is currently recommended for women aged 50–74 years, and is available but not routinely recommended for women at average risk aged 40–49 years due to a much smaller benefit than for older women. Routine mammographic screening is not recommended for women aged <40 years as there is no evidence of effectiveness and screening results in many false positive mammograms.
Breast Cancer Risk - Average or only slightly higher risk
- Who?
- What should be done?
- How often?
Breast Cancer Risk - Moderately increased risk
- Who?
- What should be done?
- How often?
How often:
- At least every two years from 50-74 years of age
- Annual mammograms from 40 may be recommended if the woman has a first degree relative <50yrs diagnosed with breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Risk - Potentially high risk
- Who?
- What should be done?
- How often?
How often:
- At least every two years from 50-74 years of age
- Annual mammograms from 40 may be recommended if the woman has a first degree relative <50yrs diagnosed with breast cancer.
What are the current screening recommendations for cervical cancer?
Women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 years of age are invited to have a Cervical Screening Test every 5 years through their healthcare provider.
Cervical Cancer Risk - Average risk
- Who?
- What should be done?
- How often?
Cervical Cancer Risk - Increased risk
- Who?
- What should be done?
- How often?
Tests for detecting cervical cancer?
What are the current screening recommendations for prostate cancer? What are the tests for prostate cancer?
Screening of asymptomatic (low-risk) men for prostate cancer by prostate specific antigen (PSA)
testing is not recommended because the benefits have not clearly been shown to outweigh the
harms. Therefore, GPs have no obligation to offer prostate cancer screening to asymptomatic men.
Describe the Aetiology of Colorectal Cancer - Colorectal carcinogenesis pathways (molecular pathology)
- Chromosomal instability pathway in colon cancer?
- Microsatellite instability pathway in colon cancer?
- Hypermethylation phenotype pathway in colon cancer?
- COX-2 Overexpresion?
What are the 2 main aetiological pathways for carcinogenesis in colorectal cancer? Explain them.
Top: Chromosomal instability pathway (adenoma-carcinoma sequence)
- Loss of the tumor suppressor gene, APC, results in hyperproliferative epithelium due to a loss of cellular adhesion and increased cellular proliferation. A mutation in KRAS results in unregulated cellular signaling and cellular proliferation, leading to the formation of an adenoma. Loss of the tumor suppressor genes TP53 and DCC results in the malignant transformation of an adenoma to carcinoma. The chromosomal instability pathway is responsible for carcinomas in FAP (loss of APC) as well as in most cases of sporadic colorectal carcinoma.
Bottom: Microsatellite instability pathway
- Acquired or inherited mutations in the mismatch repair genes (esp. MLH1 and MSH2) result in abnormal proliferation and the formation of adenoma and carcinoma. The microsatellite instability pathway is responsible for carcinomas in Lynch syndrome (HNPCC) and a few cases of sporadic colorectal carcinoma.
List 6 Risk Factors for Colorectal cancer:
- Which hereditary syndromes? (5)
- Which associated conditions? (4)
- 2 lifestyle?
- 3 diet?
3 Protective factors for colorectal cancer?
- Long-term use of aspirin and other NSAIDs
- Physical activity
- Diet rich in fiber and vegetables and lower in meat
List 5 Constitutional Symptoms of Colorectal cancer?
Clinical Features of Right vs. Left-Sided Colorectal cancer?
**Constitutional symptoms: **
1. Weight loss
2. Fever
3. Night sweats
4. Fatigue
5. Abdominal discomfort (symptoms similar to diverticulitis, especially in carcinoma of the rectosigmoid or descending colon)
Definition and clinical features of a rectal carcinoma?
4 Red Flags for Colorectal Cancer?
Clinical features of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer? Where is the most common site of metastasis?
Which investigations should be ordered in a patient with suspected colorectal cancer?
- Indications and findings for a DRE?
- Indications and findings for Flexible sigmoidoscopy +/- anoscopy?
All patients with suspected CRC should undergo a complete colonoscopy with biopsy of suspicious lesions. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, additional tests to stage the cancer are required to guide management.
What are the indications, typical findings, and considerations for Complete colonoscopy in patients with suspected colorectal cancer?
List 4 Laboratory studies you would consider in a patient with suspected colorectal cancer?
Complications of Colorectal Cancer: Peritoneal carcinomatosis
- Definition?
- Epidemiology?
- Aetiology?
- Clinical features?
- Diagnostics?
- Treatment?
- Complications?
- Prognosis?
What are the follow-up recommendations for patients with a history of colorectal cancer?
What are 6 Hormonal risk factors for breast cancer?
What are 5 Individual risk factors for breast cancer?
Which gene mutations are associated with breast cancer?
What are 3 Genetic conditions that have an increased risk of breast cancer?
For the characteristics of Li-Fraumeni syndrome, think BLAST53: Breast cancer/Brain tumors, Leukemia/Lymphoma, Adrenocortical carcinoma, Sarcoma, and Tp53.
What are the 3 main types of breast cancer? 5 less common types?
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) - eg. Comedocarcinoma
- Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) - eg. Medullary breast cancer
- Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) -
What are 4 Characteristics of Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)? What is a Comedocarcinoma?
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)
- 2 Characteristics?
- Localisation?
- Medullary breast cancer characteristics?
- Medullary breast cancer differential diagnosis?
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC)
- Characteristics? (2)
- Localisation?
What are the clinical features of breast cancer:
- in the Early stages? (3)
- in Locally advanced disease?
- Progressive disease? (3)
Early Stages
In early stages, affected individuals may notice a palpable mass with the following characteristics:
* Typically single, nontender, and firm
* Poorly defined margins
* Most commonly located in the upper outer quadrant (∼ 55%)
Progressive disease
1. Ulcerations
2. Edema of the arm
3. Paget disease of the nipple