Neoplasia Agents Flashcards
Different names for cancer meds
Anticancer drugs
Antineoplastic
Chemotherapeutic meds
3 main goals to cancer
Cure
Control
Palliation (palliative care)
-comfort
Palliative care vs hospice
Palliative care is not always hospice
Hospice is on death bed
Adjunct chemotherapy
Surgery: remove tumor
Radiation: shrink tumors
Natural therapy
Selenium: mineral thats thought to prevent cancer
The US soil is thought to be lacking adequate selenium
Can be taken to prevent or while having it
Taken with Vit E (increase selenium in men=increased prostate cancer)
Why do we take multiple meds with cancer?
Better results
Decrease each to lower SEs but increase kill percentage
Attacks from all angles
Cellular toxicity
Chemo attacks all cells undergoing active growth and division
Such as:
Hair follicles (why we see hair loss)
GI tract (bleeding, diarrhea)
Vomiting center
Hematopoietic factors concerning the bone marrow
(RBC-lower perfusion, WBC-infection, platelets-no clots)
*main reason chemo is dicontinued
Alkylating Agents
Bind to nucleic acid at cancer cell Inhibit division
Most common agents
Killing of cancer cell takes place when cell divide
Blood cells (WBC, RBC, platelets) are particularly sensitive to alkylation and bone marrow suppression (causes suppression of these cells)
Alopecia and GI is effected
Antimetabolites
Resembles purines and pyrimidines (building blocks of DNA, RNA)
Cancer will accidentally use the antimetabolites instead of the real DNA to construct proteins. Which slows growth or destroys them
Methotrexate (Rheumatrex)
Antitumor antibiotics
Administered IV or directly into body cavity when the tumor or cancer is
Bone marrow suppression is limiting factor with the anti-tumor antibiotics
Plant extract
Used after chemotherapy
Disrupt cell division
Used during remission
Bone marrow suppression inhibits usage
Hormone or hormone blocking agents
Limited to treating hormone sensitive tumors of breast and prostate
Slows tumor growth
Rarely effective alone, often used for palliation
Least effective chemotherapy related meds
Tamoxifen (breast cancer)
Tamoxifen
Can use 5 years and take home
Also a prophylaxis for (BRCA 1 & 2)
Chemo special treatment
Need PPE when touching pt
Rn not certified to give
Biological response to modifiers
Do not directly kill cancer tumors
Stimulate body immune system to fight them
Often referred to as “immunotherapy”
Blood dycrasias are common issues
3 classes
-interferons
-interleukin-2
-monoclonal antibodies (most popular)
