Oncology: Intro to Pediatric Oncology Flashcards
What is Cx?
“broad group of dis’s involving unregulated cell growth. In cx, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, which may invade nearby parts of body.”
Medical Interventions for Cx DEPENDS ON 3 THINGS:
- TYPE
- GRADE
- STAGE of Cx
PRIMARY intervention used for MOST Cx
Chemotherapy
Chemo MAY be combined w/ what other forms of Tx?
Radiation tx
Sx for tumor removal
Chemo related terms
Adverse Effects—–
UNWANTED responses to Tx, may be immediate OR persistent
Chemo related terms:
Persistent Effects—–
relate to late term or long term effects of Cx tx
Chemo/Cx related Side effects/Adverse Effects
- Nausea/vom
- dizziness/vertigo
- PAIN
- Fatigue–Cx related fatigue**
- dyspnea
- anorexia
- coughing
- 2* malignancies**
-
Thrombocytopenia
- bed rest typ results from any of above
PERSISTENT effects aka
LONG TERM EFFECTS
PERSISTEN EFFECTS consist of:
7:
- 2* Cx’s
- organ damage
- Infertility
- chronic hepatitis
- Alterations in growth and development
- PEDS
-
impaired cognitive functioning
- CNS tumors
-
Toxicity
- MOST related to the medical mgmt of Primary Cx
These 2 types of Cx acct for more than HALF of ALL CHILDHOOD CX
- Leukemias
- Cx of CNS
1/3 Cx in children are…..
Leukemias
MOST COMMON TYPE OF Leukemia in Children
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
ALL
Most common Solid tumors in children
- BRAIN TUMORS
- Gliomas
- Meduloblastomas
Other LESS COMMON SOLID TUMORS in children
- Neuroblastomas
- Wilms tumor
- Sarcomas
MOST COMMON TYPE OF PEDIATRIC Cx
ALL
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
ALL (most common pediatric cx)
Cancer of _____ and ______
Cx of blood and bone marrow
Describe ALL
Cx of blood and bone marrow
- malignant proliferation of immature WBCs, beginning in bone marrow
- Leukemia cells crowd out Norm blood cells and cause:
-
Anemia
- reduced RBCs
-
Bruising
- reduced plts
-
INCd infection risk
- DECd norm WBCs
-
Anemia
Possible Risk Factors/Causes for ALL
5:
- being exposed to X-rays before birth
- being exposed to radiation
- Past tx w/ chemo
- having certain changes in genes
-
Genetic cond’s
* Down syndrome
* Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)
-
Genetic cond’s
WARNING SIGNS OF ALL
- Persistent (long term) fever
- easy bruising or bleeding
-
Petechiae
-
flat, pinpoint, dark-red spots UNDER skin caused by bleeding
- rash-like, internal bleeding
-
flat, pinpoint, dark-red spots UNDER skin caused by bleeding
- Unexplained bone or jt pain
- Painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, groin
- inflamed lymph nodes
- pain or feeling of fullness below ribs
- weak, tired, pale
- Loss of appetite
Multitude of tests performed to Dx ALL
- Hx and physical
- CBC
- Blood chem studies
- Bone Marrow Aspiration/Biopsy
- Cytogenic analysis
Prognostic Factors for ALL
# of WBCs in the blood @ Dx
LOWER #===POOR
Prognostic factors ALL
- # Of WBCs in the blood @ Dx
- LOWER==POOR
- Whether there are certain changes in the chromosomes or genes of the lymphocytes w/ cx
- POOR
- whether the child has Down Syndrome
- POOR
- whether leukemia cells are found in the CSF
- POOR
- how quickly and how low the leukemia cell count drops AFTER initial Tx
- BETTER w/ FASTER drop rate
Survival rate for ALL w/ medical intervention
~80%
4 Modes of Tx used for ALL
- Chemo (but toxic)
- Radiation
- Stem cell transplasnt
- Targeted Therapy
Tx used for ALL
5. what is Targeted Therapy?
- tx that uses drugs or other substances to ID and attack specific cx cells w/out harming NORMAL CELLS
SIDE EFFECTS OF MEDICAL INTERVENTION
Chemo agents often associated w/ __________
Neuropathy
SIDE EFFECTS OF MEDICAL INTERVENTION
Chemo agents often associated w/ Neuropathy
explain other SEs of Chemo
-
Vincristine== one of the drugs used
- toxic–> causes peripheral neuropathy
- chemo successful in killing cancer
- chemo is toxic to body
-
Peripheral neuropathy common SE
- so we will see Foot drop
SIDE EFFECTS OF MEDICAL INTERVENTION
Another Tx other than chemo…
Methotrexate
- helps to STOP GROWTH of cx cells
- may lead to Roid rage and mood difficulties
SHORT and LONG-TERM complications of ALL/Medical Tx
- PAIN
- parasthesias–> distal UE/LE
- reduced DTRs
- mm cramps
- learning disabilities
- miss school
- AVN
-
Osteopenia/osteoporosis
- esp w/ long term steroid use
- HIGH Fx RISK**
- Impaired gross and fine motor skills
- mm weakness
- DECd energy expenditure
Role of PT in ALL
in general…
- COMBAT 2* effects of bed rest
- cx fatigue
- chemo toxicity
Role of PT in ALL
Research shows children w/ ALL have deficits in MULTIPLE AREAS both DURING and AFTER tx
examples?
- Cardiopulm fitness
- LOW activity lvl
- Strength
- ROM
- Motor skills
- Balance
Obesity affects _______ children w/ ALL
*long term steroid use
*gain wt during medical tx and are unable to lose after tx is complete
11-57%
Vincristine related neuropathies
may also require PT
BRAIN tumor common in children
Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma is a form of brain tumor that arises WHERE?
Posterior Fossa
- approx 40% of all post fossa tumors
- **80% of medulloblastomas arise in the region of the 4th ventricle
Medulloblastoma warning signs
EARLY sx’s are related to what?
BLOCKAGE of CSF and resultant hydrocephalus
Medulloblastoma Warning Signs
commonly present w/:
- relatively abrupt onset of HA’s
- vomiting
- lethargy
- Unsteadiness– truncal unsteadiness
- some degree of nystagmus
- Papilledema
Medulloblastoma warning signs:
INFANTS–presentation is variable
- NONSPECIFIC lethargy
- psychomotor delays
- loss of developmental milestones
- feeding diff’s
-
Bulging of the anterior fontanel due to INCd ICP AND abnormal eye mvmts
-
Anterior fontanel is hole in top of skull
- closes by 24mos
- early as 12mos
- look for bulging here from Hydrocephalus
-
Anterior fontanel is hole in top of skull
Prognostic Factors for Medulloblastoma
-
Extent of dis @ Dx
- LARGER tumor==poorer prognosis
- Age @ dx
- <3 NOT favorable
- amt of residual disease after definitive sx
- POOR prognosis if unable to resect all dis’d tissue
- Tumor histopathology/tumor cell characteristics
- Survival rates vary
Medical tx’s for Medulloblastoma
- Sx to resect tumor
- total or partial resection performed IF SAFE TO DO SO
- Additional tx’s:
-
chemo + radiation
-
compliment the Sx
- shrink tumor and attack metastatic dis.
-
compliment the Sx
-
chemo + radiation
Post-op Presentation of Medulloblastoma
- SIGNIFICANT neurological deficits caused by pre-op tumor related brain injury OR Sx-related brain injury