Oncology (Self-made) Flashcards
What are the 3 most common cancers in females? Males?
Females: Breast, lung, colorectal
Males: Prostate, lung, colorectal
What cancer is the main cause of death in people under 20y?
Leukemia for both genders.
What is the most common preventable cause of cancer death?
Tobacco use.
Tobacco cessation falls under primary prevention.
What are the 3 primary prevention methods associated with reducing cancer risk?
- Tobacco cessation
- Dietary modifications
- Alcohol reduction/cessation
When are mammograms recommended for a typical patient?
Over age 40.
When is colorectal screening indicated?
Over age 45.
When should pap smears begin?
Age 21, up to age 65.
What is the general mnemonic for cancer warning signs?
- Change in bowel or bladder habits
- A sore that does not heal
- Unusual bleeding or discharge
- Thickening or lumps in the breast, testicles, or elsewhere.
- Indigestion or dysphagia
- Obvious change in size/color/shape, etc of mouth sore.
- Nagging cough or hoarseness
CAUTION
What are the classic general findings associated with cancer?
- Nightsweats
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- Persistent low-grade fever
- Chronic pain
- Persistent fatigue
- Recurrent infections
What is the definitive diagnostic test for cancer?
Invasive tissue biopsy is required in nearly all cancers to definitively diagnose.
What is the most common psychiatric complaint associated with cancer?
Depression.
What is the most common staging system for most cancers?
- Tumor
- Node
- Metastasis
What parts of TNM are associated with metastasis? What rating is considered metastasis?
- N1 = metastasis to regional lymph nodes.
- M1: distant metastasis.
What is physiologic reserve and how is it measured?
- A determinant of a patient’s ability to handle physiologic stress.
- Age
- Karnofsky performance status
- ECOG performance status
< 70 karnofsky or >= 3 ECOG is poor prognosis.
Define palliative care.
Symptomatic treatment, aimed at improving/preserving quality of life over treating the underlying etiology.
What is the primary tumor marker for colon cancer?
CA19-9
What is the biggest non-modifiable risk factor for cancer?
Age
What is the progenitor cell of the granulocytes?
Myeloblast
When are absolute WBC counts most reliable?
Pathologic states.
Where are most neutrophils typically found?
Within bone marrow.
What are the primary triggers for neutrophilic shifts?
Acute/physical/emotional stress.
What are the 3 etiologies associated with true neutrophilia?
- Spurious = falsely elevated
- Primary = inherited effect
- Secondary = acquired, usually infectious.
Also known as a left shift.
What wound sign can suggest neutropenia?
Lack of pus in a wound.
What is considered severe neutropenia?
ANC < 500
When is pseudoneutropenia most commonly seen?
Morning specimens.
Neutrophils resting within the bone marrow.
How can severe neutropenia affect a bacterial infection S/S?
Initial presenting symptoms can be absent.
What medications are most commonly known to cause neutropenia?
- Sulfonamides
- PCN
- Cephalosporins
- Methimazole
- Phenytoin
What is the mnemonic for Felty Syndrome?
- Splenomegaly
- Anemia
- Neutropenia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Arthritis (Rheumatoid)
SANTA is felty
Felty syndrome (FS) is a rare extra-articular manifestation of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) characterized by RA, neutropenia, and splenomegaly. Severe or recurrent infection is of particular concern due to neutropenia, especially in the skin and respiratory system.
What is the standard therapy for neutropenia?
Myeloid growth factors.
* G-CSFs (filgrastim, pegfilgrastim)
* GM-CSFs (sargramostim)
What is the treatment for autoimmune neutropenia?
- Pulse steroids
- Intermittent myeloid growth factor