Oncology Flashcards
What is cancer?
Disease characterized by cells which abnormally re-acquire the capacities of unrestrained reproduction and mobility.
Define tumour.
Collection/mass of abnormal cell growths.
What is a primary tumour?
Original site of tumour development.
What is a secondary tumour?
Metastases developed away from primary tumour but are of same origin as primary tumour.
What are metastases?
Spread of cancer cells from primary to other locations in body.
List intrinsic factors that cause cancer.
- Genetic
- Race
- Gender
- Age
List extrinsic factors that cause cancer.
- Chemical
- Physical
- Environmental
What does the ‘C’ in the 7 Warning Signs of Cancer stand for?
Change in bowel/bladder habits.
What does the ‘A’ in the 7 Warning Signs of Cancer stand for?
A sore that doesn’t heal.
What does the ‘U’ in the 7 Warning Signs of Cancer stand for?
Unusual bleeding/discharge.
What does the ‘T’ in the 7 Warning Signs of Cancer stand for?
Thickening/lump in the breast, testicles or elsewhere.
What does the ‘I’ in the 7 Warning Signs of Cancer stand for?
Indigestion/difficulty swallowing.
What does the ‘O’ in the 7 Warning Signs of Cancer stand for?
Obvious change in the size, colour, shape or thickness of a wart/mole/mouth sore.
What does the ‘N’ in the 7 Warning Signs of Cancer stand for?
Nagging cough/hoarseness of the voice.
What are the characteristics of benign tumours?
Localized in 1 area and don’t have access to a source of blood.
What are malignant tumours?
Tumours that detach from growing mass, infiltrate adjacent tissues, and have their own blood source.
What is the most common cause of lung cancer?
Smoking (87%).
What are the two main types of lung cancer?
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Small cell lung cancer
What is the staging system for lung cancer based on?
Location & size of tumour (T), number of spread to lymph nodes (N), presence/absence of metastases (M).
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
- Persistent coughing
- Haemoptysis
- Hoarseness of voice
- Change in volume/colour of sputum
- Harsh sounds with each breath
- Recurrent lung problems
- Diffuse/aching chest, shoulder or back pain
- Breathlessness
What is cancer-related fatigue?
Complete lack of energy and mental exhaustion.
What is the incidence of severe fatigue in cancer patients?
75% of cancer patients.
What are the common symptoms elsewhere in the body due to lung cancer?
- Loss of energy
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle wasting & general weakness
- Headaches, bone & joint pain
- Neurological symptoms
- Neck/facial swelling
- Blood clots
- Nausea
What is the purpose of a needle biopsy?
To diagnose lung cancer.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy?
- Increased severity in shortness of breath
- Dry persistent cough
- Pulmonary toxicity
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Resting tachycardia
What is Kaposi’s sarcoma?
A cancer affecting skin, gut, and connective tissue of immune-compromised patients.
What is mesothelioma associated with?
Asbestos exposure.
What are the signs of overt lymphedema?
- Swelling
- Redness
- Heat
- Tight skin
What is axillary web syndrome (AWS)?
A sequence of axillary lymph node dissection presenting as cordlike structures beneath the axillary skin.
What is the recommended frequency for aerobic training in cancer rehabilitation?
3-5 days/week.
What is the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer for women in South Africa?
1 in 29.
What is a common method for diagnosing breast cancer?
Mammogram.
Fill in the blank: The most common form of lung cancer in men and women is _______.
Adenocarcinoma.
What is the significance of genetic testing in breast cancer?
It determines the type of breast cancer, especially in hereditary cases.
What is the goal of physiotherapy for cancer patients?
To empower patients with strategies to relieve breathlessness and improve functional activities.
What is the role of physiotherapy in managing upper limb dysfunction post-breast cancer surgery?
To restore mobility, strength, and functional levels.
True or False: Breast cancer can occur in men.
True.
What are the signs of overt lymphedema?
Swelling, redness, heat, tight skin
These signs indicate the presence of lymphedema in a limb.
What is a common symptom described by patients with lymphedema?
Heavy sensation in the limb
This symptom is often reported by patients experiencing lymphedema.
What is one of the physical therapy management techniques for lymphedema?
Manual lymph drainage through massage techniques
This technique aims to promote lymphatic flow and reduce swelling.
What should be worn on the affected limb to manage lymphedema?
Compression bandages
Compression bandages help to reduce swelling and improve lymphatic drainage.
What is a recommended action when flying for those with lymphedema?
Wear a compression sleeve
This helps to manage swelling during flights.
Cervical cancer is the ______ leading cause of death in women in SA.
2nd
This statistic highlights the severity of cervical cancer as a public health issue.
What is the primary mode of HPV acquisition?
Sexual transmission
Understanding this mode of transmission is crucial for prevention strategies.
What percentage of cervical cancer cases have oncogenic HPV detected?
> 99%
This statistic demonstrates the strong link between HPV and cervical cancer.
What is the relationship between HPV infection and the immune system?
HPV evades the immune system as it occurs locally at the cervix
This evasion prevents the immune system from recognizing and attacking the virus.
Which HPV types are considered high-risk?
6, 11, 16, 18
These types are linked to a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.
What is the effectiveness of the Cervarix® vaccine?
98-100% effectiveness
This vaccine is specifically indicated for HPV types 16 and 18.
What are the side effects associated with the bivalent HPV vaccine?
Pain, oedema, erythema
These side effects can affect patient compliance with vaccination.
What is the total cost for HPV vaccines excluding VAT?
R2300
This total includes costs for both Cervarix® and Gardasil® vaccines.
What role does physiotherapy play in hospice care?
Symptom control, maximizing remaining functional abilities, providing care-giver education, contributing to inter-disciplinary team communication
These roles help improve the quality of life for patients with limited time left.
True or False: HPV infection is usually acquired within 5 years of sexual debut.
True
This timeline is important for understanding the risk factors associated with HPV.
Only a fraction of women chronically infected with high-risk HPV types develop ______.
cervical cancer
This highlights the variability in progression from HPV infection to cancer.
