Oncology Flashcards
WHO Performance status has a number range from __ to __ ?
0 to 5
What would the WHO performance status be: dead
5
What would the WHO performance status be: fully active, no restrictions
0
What would the WHO performance status be: completely disabled, totally confined to a bed/chair
4
What would the WHO performance status be: unable to do any self care
4
What would the WHO performance status be: unable to do strenuous activities but able to carry out light work duties
1
What would the WHO performance status be: confined to a bed/chair for more than 50% of waking hours. Ambulant for less than 50% of the day
3
What would the WHO performance status be: out of bed more than 50% of waking hours. Ambulant for over 50% of the day.
2
What is the usual WHO performance status cut off score for chemotherapy?
Usually 2 is the highest
What is the purpose of the WHO performance status?
Gives the dr an overall impression of the patient’s fitness so that they can have an idea of the likelihood of running into problems with treatment
What is an oncological emergency
A complication related to cancer or anti-cancer therapy that requires immediate intervention otherwise it could be life threatening
Name 6 examples of oncological emergencies
SVC obstruction Spinal cord compression Neutropenic sepsis Cardiac tamponade Hypercalcaemia Pulmonary embolism
Define neutropenic sepsis
- including the neutrophil levels
Signs of sepsis + neutrophils < 1.0 (if chemotherapy given in past 21 days)
If a patient has neutropenia (neutrophils <1.0) but no signs of infection, what should you do?
Nothing, no need for treatment if patient doesn’t possess any signs of infection
If a patient on chemotherapy develops neutropenic sepsis, what should you find out about their chemotherapy?
Date of last chemotherapy
Type of chemotherapy
Were blood products administered?
If patient has neutropenia (neutrophils <1.0) a temperature of over 37.5 degrees but no other signs of infection, what should you do?
Treat immediately
- initiate sepsis 6
- give antibiotics immediately
Once you find out a patient has neutropenic sepsis, what is the first thing you should do?
Give antibiotics URGENTLY
Management of neutropenic sepsis?
SEPSIS 6
Which antibiotics are used in neutropenic sepsis?
IV Tazocin 4.5g QDS + gentamicin
- want a broad cover
Spinal cord compression is most commonly seen in which 4 cancers
Breast
Lung
Prostate
Bladder
What is usually the first symptom in a spinal cord compression
Pain
Describe the pain experienced in spinal cord compression?
Radicular pain (band like, burning) Worse when coughing/straining
Spinal cord compression signs and symptoms
Pain (radicular)
Weakness
Sensory alteration - numbness, foot drop
Urinary retention
In spinal cord compression, which symptoms come first: sensory symptoms or motor symptoms?
- why is this
Motor symptoms come first
- cancer usually comes from the vertebral body (remember the vertebral body is positioned anterior to the SC) and the cancer works posteriorly so it hits the ventral horn first (motor) before the dorsal horn (sensory)
What is the first line urgent investigation in a patient with spinal cord compression?
Urgent MRI scan
Management options in spinal cord compression
Dexamethasone
- to reduce vasogenic oedema
Surgery
- if confined and patient able to go under GA
Radiotherapy
Causes of SVC obstruction can be split into 2 categories. what are these?
Causes within the SVC
- clot
- foreign body
- cancer
Causes outwith the SVC (and compressing it from the outside)
- cancer
SVC obstruction - which type of lung tumour is most likely to cause extrinsic compression on the SVC? SCLC or NSCLC
SCLC
SVC obstruction - clinical presentation
Swelling of the face, neck, arms
distended veins
shortness of breath
headache
SVC obstruction - initial investigation
CXR
- look for tracheal deviation
- look for evidence of tumour
SVC obstruction - management if the cause is a clot
thrombolysis
anti-coagulation
SVC obstruction - management if the cause is compression from a mass
Dexamethasone
Stent
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Cancer patients are more/less likely to clot
More likely
What is the link between hypercalcaemia and cancer?
Most calcium is stored in the bone so if there is bone destruction (which can happen in cancer) then this can cause hypercalcaemia
What are the 2 most common causes of hypercalcaemia?
Malignancy
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypercalcaemia is when the corrected calcium level is over which value?
> 2.55mmol/l
Malignant hypercalcaemia - presentation
Pain Thirst Polyuria Confusion Anorexia Constipation Poor concentration Itch
If you suspect malignant hypercalcaemia, which investigations should you carry out?
Calcium Corrected calcium PTH - if raised, suspect primary hyperparathyroidism U+E - look for dehydration Myeloma screen
Malignant hypercalcaemia - what is the most important test to guide management?
U+E
What is the first step in the management of malignant hypercalcaemia?
REHYDRATION
- 3-4L 0.9% saline in 24 hours
- monitor urine output
What is the maangemetn of malignant hypercalcaemia?
Rehydration first then
bisphosphinates
What is a bisphosphinate used in the treatment of malignant hypercalcaemia ?
Pamidronate IV 60-90mg over 2 hours
What is the function of bisphosphinates
They adsorb to bone and block osteoclast-mediated bone resorption
How many days do bisphosphinates take to work?
3-5 days
If a patient has bisphosphinates but the next day there is no improvement in the symptoms, should you continue to give bisphosphinates?
No ???
wait for a few days to see the effect of the bisphosphinates
Buzzword for tumour lysis syndrome
Abnormal electrolytes