Non-operative management of lung cancer Flashcards
what are the side effects of radiotherapy of lung cancer?
radio therapy to the chest may damage your lungs and cause a cough, problems breathing and shortness of breath,
can also cause long term inflammation and fibrosis of the lungs
these side effects usually improve after treatment is over, although sometimes they may not go away completely
what are the side effects of chemotherapy treating lung cancer?
hair loss mouth sores loss of appetite nausea and vomiting diarrhoea or constipation increased chance of infections, from having too few white blood cells easy bruising or bleeding, from having too few blood platelets fatigue, from having too red blood cells
what are the outcomes of chemotherapy drugs usually being given into a vein?
after many treatments these veins may collapse or may become hard and uncomfortable
what may treatment of extensive stage small cell lung cancer include?
combination chemotherapy, radiation therapy to the brain, spine, bone or other body parts where the cancer has spread, as palliative therapy relieve symptoms and improves quality of life
what is the purpose of palliative care?
to help reduce symptoms such as pain, fatigue and emotional issues, as palliative care doesn’t treat the lung cancer itself
when may palliative care be recommended?
if treatment options have been exhausted
where may palliative care be given?
at home, in hospital or in a hospice
when chemotherapy is part of your lung cancer treatment what may palliative care manage?
side effects such as nausea, vomiting, pain, fatigue, constipation, diarrhoea, depression and insomnia
can having both radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments at the same time increase side effects?
yes
name an endoscopic technique
bronchoscopy
what is bronchoscopy?
a technique which visualises the inside of the airways for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
what is a bronchoscope?
it is an instrument inserted into the airways usually through the nose or mouth
what can be examined through the use of a bronchoscope?
the pharynx, larynx, trachea and lower airways can be examined
what else can a bronchoscope be used for apart from examination?
removal of small tissue samples, this is a biopsy, you need to gain a decent sized biopsy to determine whether lung cancer is present
what is tracheostomy?
an incision in the windpipe made to relieve an obstruction to breathing
what is usually the first test used to diagnose lung cancer?
a chest x-ray
what does lung cancer appear as on a chest x-ray?
lung cancer appears as a mass or as an area of consolidation on a chest x ray, most tumours show up on chest x-rays as a white-grey mass
why can’t chest x-rays give a definitive diagnosis of lung cancer?
because they often can’t distinguish between cancer and other conditions, for example a lung abscess
what are the stages of non small cell lung cancer where surgery is a typically treatment option?
stage 1 to stage 3A,
however fewer than 50% of patients are still alive 5 years after surgery
state an neo-adjuvant therapy of non small cell lung cancer?
neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, patients with early stage 1B to 3A non small cell lung cancer,
provides a 5% survival benefit at 5 years post surgery
what is adjuvant chemotherapy?
chemotherapy given after surgery to reduce the chance of the cancer returning
what is an advantage of adjuvant chemotherapy?
the 5 year survival rate post surgery can improve
what is a disadvantage of adjuvant chemotherapy?
it is quite a toxic treatment
state an adjuvant therapy of non small cell lung cancer?
adjuvant chemotherapy
what is the management of non small cell lung cancer advanced disease?
systemic therapy should be considered
patients are no longer amenable to local therapies
non-operable
palliative chemotherapy treatment
what is radical radiotherapy?
high energy x-rays, dose 55Gy+, it is non-surgical treatment
what stage of non small cell lung cancer is radical radiotherapy used to treat?
stage 3, pulmonary function tests are essential prior to radical radiotherapy of stage 3 non small cell lung cancer
what is among the most common treatments of stage 3 and 4 non small cell lung cancer?
chemotherapy
what is stage 4 non small cell lung cancer?
it is the most advanced form of the disease, the cancer has metastasised, this stage results in the cancer being incurable, palliation is essential
what stage are 40% of patients with non small cell lung cancer diagnosed at?
stage 4
what is the fast growing type of lung cancer
small cell lung cancer, this form of cancer spreads more quickly
what are almost all cases of small cell lung cancer due to?
cigarette smoking
what is the most aggressive form of lung cancer?
small cell lung cancer
where does small cell lung cancer usually start?
in the bronchi
what is the treatment of small cell lung cancer limited disease?
chemotherapy
what does it mean by lung cancer limited disease?
when cancer is only in one lung
what is extensive stage small cell lung cancer?
when the cancer has spread to tissue outside of the originally affected lung
