Oncology

Question 1

National Cancer Institute Staging

Answer 1

Stage 0: early malignancy (not all cancers have a stage 0)

Stage I: malignancy limited to tissue of origin with no lymph node involvement or metastasis

Stage II: malignancy spreading into adjacent tissues; lymph nodes may show signs of micrometastasis

Stage III: malignancy has spread to adjacent tissues showing signs of fixation to deeper structures; likelihood of metastatic lymph node involvement is high

Stage IV: malignancy that has metastasized beyond primary site (ie bone, or another organ)

Question 2

Common metastases for breast cancer

Answer 2

lymph nodes, lungs, bones, skin, brain

Question 3

Leukemia (pediatric)

Answer 3

leukocytes change into malignant cells
accumulate in bone marrow and ultimately cease production of normal cells
will spread to lymph nodes, liver, spleen, other areas

high fever, bleeding, enlarged lymph nodes and spleen, progressive weakness, fatigue painful joints

bloodwork: anemia, leukocyte count >500,000, thrombocytopenia

Question 4

Ewing’s sarcoma

Answer 4

Ewing sarcoma is most common in adolescents and young adults

a lump (which may feel soft and warm) in the arms, legs, chest, or pelvis, pain/swelling near the lump, fever, broken bone without MOI, night pain, fatigue, unexplained weight loss

Question 4

Osteogenic sarcoma (pediatric)

Answer 4

occurs in epiphysis of long bones
most common form of bone cancer in children, with peak incidence of 10-20 years old

presence of a mass, rapid metastases, associated pain

*radiation not effective, amputation and limb salvage is better

Question 5

Wilm’s tumor

Answer 5

embryonal nephroblastoma found in the kidney
mostly diagnosed between 1 and 4 years old

abdominal mass, pain, hematouria, fever, n/v