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Pharmacology 2 > Radiotherapy > Flashcards

Radiotherapy Flashcards

0
Q

What is the nucleus of atoms made up of?

A

Neutrons and protons

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1
Q

What are atoms made up of?

A

Neutrons, protons and electrons

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2
Q

What are the 4 types of radiation?

A

Alpha, beta, gamma/x-rays, neutrons

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3
Q

What stops alpha waves?

A

Skin

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4
Q

What stops beta waves?

A

Aluminium

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5
Q

What stops gamma/x rays?

A

Lead

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6
Q

What stops neutrons?

A

Concrete

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7
Q

Give 5 examples of how radiation is used

A 
Smoke detectors
Sterilising medical instruments
Dating rocks and materials - archaeological finds
Traces for medical diagnosis
Killing cancer cells
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8
Q

What is radiotherapy?

A

The treatment of disease by ionising radiation.

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9
Q

How does ionising radiation work?

A

Penetrate tissues, alters the nuclear material i.e DNA, disrupting cell growth and reproduction. Causes apoptosis.

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10
Q

What is the advantage of radiotherapy?

A

Targeted to damage cancer cells - healthy cells can recover.

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11
Q

What types of radiation are the preferred treatment?

A

Alpha and gamma radiation

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12
Q

When might you use radiotherapy? (5 reasons)

A 
To treat cancer
To shrink a tumour before surgery
To reduce cancer returning after surgery
To control symptoms - palliative
To reduce growth of cells - Graves' disease
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13
Q

When would radiotherapy be appropriate and when wouldn’t it be appropriate?

A

Appropriate for stand alone tumours, can target a specific area. Not appropriate if cancer has spread.

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14
Q

What are the two types of radiotherapy?

A

External and internal

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15
Q

How long does it take to give external radiotherapy?

A

Usually given over several weeks, mon-fri. 5 min per fraction.

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16
Q

What is important to remember when giving radiotherapy?

A

Mark the area, person needs to be motionless during treatment.

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17
Q

What is a radiotherapy machine?

A

Metal element is heated to produce electrons, these accelerate in an electric field towards a piece of tungsten metal which emits high energy x rays when they hit it.

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18
Q

What is conformal radiotherapy (CRT) and when is it used?

A

Use of metal blocks to direct the beam of ionising radiation to target the shape of the tumour - used in prostate cancer.

19
Q

What is internal radiotherapy?

A

Radioactive wires or seeds put into affected area, may be given once or a few times, usually in hospital, a few days (wires or IV), monitored using a Geiger counter, mustn’t come into contact with pregnant women or anyone growing.

20
Q

When might you use internal radiotherapy?

A

Cervical cancer

21
Q

Which radiation do you use for internal radiotherapy?

A

Alpha

22
Q

How can you give internal radiotherapy?

A

IV or liquid form

23
Q

Name two forms of internal radiotherapy given for bone cancer?

A

Strontium 89 and samarium 153

24
Q

When would you use iodine 131?

A

On the thyroid gland

25
Q

What is the name of a radiotherapy being used in secondary bone cancer trials?

A

Radium 223

26
Q

Other than for secondary bone cancer when else might you use radium 223?

A

Relieve blockages of the oesophagus

27
Q

Why might people experience side effects to radiotherapy?

A

Damage to healthy cells can take time to recover

28
Q

What do the side effects of radiotherapy depend on?

A 
Area being treated.
Dose of radiation.
Age
Ca for longer period
Physical well being
29
Q

When can side effects of radiotherapy appear?

A

During treatment.

Weeks/months after treatment

30
Q

Give 5 side effects of radiotherapy

A 
Tiredness
Nausea/sickness
Sore skin
Muscle and Joint pain
Fertility
31
Q

Why might radiotherapy cause tiredness?

A 
Physical exertion of going every day
Anaemia - destruction of RBC's
Less 02 carrying capacity
Diarrhoea
Bone marrow affected - pelvis, abdo, prostate.
32
Q

Which areas receiving radiotherapy might cause sickness?

A

GI tract and brain

33
Q

Why does radiotherapy cause sickness when targeting the brain?

A

Triggers vomiting centre

34
Q

What might you prescribe for someone who is suffering from sickness?

A

Anti emetics eg domperidone

35
Q

What are people advised not to use when receiving radiotherapy for breast cancer?

A

Deodorant or perfumed soaps

36
Q

Why do people relieving radiotherapy suffer from sore skin?

A

Local reaction to the radiation, temporary hair loss in area.

37
Q

What can help ease muscle and joint pain?

A

Light exercise/physiotherapy

38
Q

What three different things can cause fertility problems in those receiving radiotherapy?

A

Loss of libido
Ovarian function affected inducing early menopause
Prostate impotence/infertility

39
Q

What is a risk of radiotherapy?

A

Could cause cancer in normal cells

40
Q

Why would you use radiotherapy in the thyroid gland?

A

Graves’ disease - reduce activity of the thyroid gland by destroying cells, less T3/T4 release.

41
Q

Current research is looking into what two types of radiotherapy?

A

Hyperfractionated

Hypofractionated

42
Q

What is hyper fractionated radiotherapy?

A

More than one fraction a day given over 12 days

43
Q

What is hypo fractionated radiotherapy?

A

Increase dose of radiotherapy but give over fewer fractions

44
Q

What is stereotactic radiotherapy?

A

Used to treat small round tumours of head, eg pituitary adenomas, acoustic neuromas, growths in the base of the skull - meningiomas

45
Q

What is radiosurgery?

A

One single large dose of radiation, only suitable for small tumours, IMRT and IGRT.

Pharmacology 2 (14 decks)

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