Principles of Oncology

Question 1

What are the 6 (stupid) principles of Oncology?

Answer 1

1) Prevention > cure
2) Early detection aids outcome
3) Curable cancers
4) Easily treatable cancers
5) Cost vs Benefit
6) Need histo

Question 2

What are the 4 treatment modalities?

Answer 2

1) Surgery
2) Radiotherapy
3) Chemotherapy
4) Immunotherapy

Question 3

What are the 4 aims/uses of chemotherapy?

Answer 3

1) Curative (destroy all cancer cells and cure disease)
2) Palliative (control and prolong life)
3) Adjuvant (post surgery/radiotherapy)
4) Neoadjuvant (pre surgery/radiotherapy)

Question 4

What are the 3 main methods of chemotherapy administration?

Answer 4

IV, Oral, Local

Question 5

What are the 4 methods of regional administration?

Answer 5

1) Intraperitoneal (eg. ovarian cancer)
2) Intravesical (eg. bladder cancer)
3) Intrathecal (Spinal cord or intracranial)
4) Hepatic artery infusion (eg. Hepatocellular carcinoma)

Question 6

Why do px undergoing chemotherapy lose their hair?

Answer 6

rapidly dividing cells are more sensitive

Question 7

What is the most prominent adverse effect of chemotherapy?

Answer 7

Myelosuppression

Question 8

What is the dose-limiting toxicity of chemotherapy?

Answer 8

Myelosuppression

Question 9

How does myelosuppression commonly manifest?

Answer 9

1) Anemia
2) Neutropenia
3) Thrombocytopenia