ONCOLOGY Prostate Cancer Flashcards
A 30 year old male smoker comes to the doctor and is complaining of:
urinary hesitancy,
urinary frequency,
frequent bladder/ urinary tract infections,
nocturia,
urgency,
and dribbling. this is signs of
prostate cancer
The MOST COMMON sign of prostate cancer is___
painless hematuria
*notice the bleeding is always painless*
When the doctor performs a digital rectal exam on this patient, he feels a hard/nodular prostate. which usually means
prostate cancer
What’s the name of the protein that is only produced by the prostate?
what’s the normal value?
if you have 2 or more 1st degree relatives with prostate cancer, when should you start this test?
PSA (prostate specific antigen)
if this patient also has an increase level of alkaline phosphatase, what does that mean?
where does prostate cancer like to metastasize to?
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE =____ Damage
it has metastasized to the bone
- spine
- sacrum
- pelvis
*that’s why they like to complain of back pain*
*basically, the spinal cord*
*Bone damage*
what’s one criteria for “watchful waiting” treatment for cancer?
if the patient is like, 82 years old and their body can’t tolerate chemo due to other diseases.
Radical prostatectomy is done when___ if there is any damage in the “pudendal” nerve, what can happen?
the cancer is localized to the prostate only.
it will be taken out and the patient will be cancer free. erectile dysfunction
TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) what is this used for?
most common complication?
usually reserved for BPH, and is done in order to help urine flow
bleeding; but a little bit is expected
What’s the difference between complications of the TURP and “other” surgeries involving the prostate?
TURP= only bleeding complication (a little bit is normal) others= impotence and erectile dysfunction
after a TURP, why do you want to do a continuos bladder irrigation?
to maintain patency and flush out clots or else it can lead to renal failure
NEVER HAND OR MANUALLY IRRIGATE CATHETER WITH FRESH SURGERY WITHOUT A SURGEON’S ___
ORDER
What drugs do we give for bladder spasms?
suppository ditropan (oxybutinin) it’s a bladder relaxant to treat bladder spasms/ overactive bladder.
when the bladder is removed, what do we check for?
urinary retention
*UROSTOMY = BLADDER REMOVAL*
is temporary incontinence expected?
they should be instructed to do___ exercises
yes;
kegel or perineal exercises
Post discharge, the patient should avoid_____.
and you want to increase fluids why?
sitting.
driving.
streneous exercise.
lifting more than 20 pounds.
-to flush out the blood clots
