(P4) Oncology Flashcards
What is cancer?
- Name given to a group of related diseases
- occurs as a result of genetic mutations
What is a tumour?
An abnormal mass of tissue the growth of which exceeds and is uncoordinated with that of a normal tissue
How can cancer be prevented?
- Smoking cessation
- Eating healthy
- Exercise regularly
- Reduce alcohol intake
- Sun smart
- Reduce processed red meats
What is metastatic cancer?
- advanced or secondary cancer
- cancer spread to another part of the body
What is the aim of treatment for metastatic cancer?
Control the cancer rather than cure it
Where can cancers metastasise?
- in blood
- in lymphatic system
- by direct invasion
- across body cavities
What are the different types of cancer?
- Brain and SC
- Carcinomas
- Sarcomas
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma and Myeloma
How is cancer diagnosed?
- Breast and bowel screening
- Blood test
- Biopsy
- Lumbar puncture
- CT & MRI
- Tumour markers
- Cytology
What is staging?
- Used to define the size and spread of the cancer
- TNM commonly used
What are the 5 stages of staging?
O = Carcinoma in situ
I = localised
II = early localised advanced
III = late locally advanced
IV = Metastasized
What is the medical treatment for cancer?
- chemotherapy
- immunotherapy
- radiotherapy
- hormone therapy
- stem cell transplant
What is chemotherapy?
Is a treatment with cytotoxic drugs, which control cancer by killing cells during the process of cell division
What are the aims of chemotherapy?
- reduce size tumour
- kill cancer cells in the body
- reduce risk or reoccurrence
- control growth or spread
- easing cancer symptoms
What are side effects of chemotherapy?
- bone marrow toxicity
- neutropenia
- thrombocytopenia
- urinary toxicity
- weight loss
- fatigue
- cardiac toxicity
- constipation
- anxiety & depression
What are the different chemotherapy toxicities?
- msk
- pulmonary
- cardiac
- neurological
What are some general side affects of radiotherapy?
- Fatigue
- Skin reactions
- Anaemia
- Infertility
- Tissue fibrosis
What are biomarkers?
are substances produced by the cancer cells or other cells in the body
What is immunotherapy?
uses the power and complexity of the immune system to find and attack the cancer cells, leaving the healthy cells alone
What surgical treatment is available?
- Diagnostic
- Radical
- Prophylactic
- Reconstructive
- Palliative
What is the aim of cancer rehabilitation?
attempts to maximise the patients ability to function, to promote their independence and to help them adapt to their condition
What are the goals of cancer rehab?
- predicting disability and intervening to prevent
- return patient to normal with minimal handicap
- support for patient if there is disability
- goals need to be adaptive and flexible
What are the roles of the respiratory physio?
- ACBT
- Pre & post op advice
- mobilisation
- intubation & ventilation
- tracheostomy care
- nebulisers
- humidification
- suction
What are the results of a brain tumour?
- cognitive dysfunction
- physical dysfunction
- loss of independence
- personality changes
What is the physio treatment for a patient with a brain tumour?
- maximise & optimise strength
- advice positioning, posture
- head/neck & trunk control
- mobility & transfers
- balance & gait
- home exercises
- activity modification
How do bone mets present?
- spontaneous pain local bone area
- severe & difficult to relieve
- more prominent night
- continuous pain
What is the medical management of bone mets?
- bedrest until plan if high risk fracture
- surgery
- radiotherapy
- bone targets agents
- endocrine therapy
What is the physio management of bone mets?
- clear discussion mdt
- careful consideration of other issues (e.g use crutches)
- aim reduce WB in specific bone
- car transfers for LL mets
- reduce fall risk
What are the guidelines for exercise & bone mets?
- Physical activity improves outcomes
- Patients encouraged be as active as possible
- Patients should be aware of worrying signs & symptoms
What is spinal cord compression?
Direct pressure &/or vertebral collapse or instability by metastatic spread or direct extension of malignancy that threatens to cause neurological disability
What are signs of spinal cord compression?
- weakness in limbs
- altered sensation
- back pain
- urinary retention
- UMN signs
- saddle anaesthesia
What is initial management for MSCC?
- Ax 4 cardinal signs
- baseline status
- resp care
- breathing status & infection control
- PROM, AROM, AAROM
What is an example of on going rehab for a patient with MSCC?
- sitting 15 degrees (30 to 45 to 60 etc)
- assess sitting balance
- transfers
- standing / walking
- ADLs
- Max independence in a wheelchair
What is lymphoedema?
A condition that involves swelling in the arm or leg as a result of a blockage of the lymphatic system
What are symptoms of lymphoedema?
- persistent swelling
- enhanced skin folds
- tightness
- discomfort / pain
- psychological issues
What is the treatment for lymphoedema?
- skin care
- SLD/MLD
- compression hosiery
- exercise
What is done during palliative care?
- complex discharge planning
- transfer practice
- use of hoist etc
- mobility
- slings / braces
- educating families
What is the relationship between exercise and cancer?
- safe and effective during cancer treatment
- essential treatment in oncology
- guidelines same as general population
What are the exercise guidelines for cancer survivors?
- Aerobic 3 times a week (30-60 mins)
- Resistance 2 times a week
What are the benefits of exercise in oncology?
- improves survival
- prevents new cancers
- reduces disease progression
- reduces anxiety
- less fatigue
- better QOL & function
- improve tolerance & recovery
