Review Questions for Cancer

Question 1

Define five year survival rates. What are the various ways they are communicated? How are they used by the physician/Patient?

Answer 1

Five Year survival rates depict the percentage of individuals who are alive after a diagnosis of cancer. There are two ways that they are communicated. A: disease free survival rate and B: the progression free survival rate. They are used by the physician/patient in order to understand prognosis and assisting in the development of a treatment plan

Question 2

Disease vs progression- free survival

Answer 2

Disease free survival - achieve remission (cancer signs are gone) progression free survival (still have cancer but has not metastasized)

Question 3

Oncogenes

Answer 3

genes that have the potential to cause cancer

Question 4

Tumor suppressor genes

Answer 4

Protects the cell from one step on the path to cancer

Question 5

Transcription Factor

Answer 5

Protein that is produced which causes the cell to begin dividing.

Question 6

Apoptosis

Answer 6

Destruction of cells or programmed destruction of cells

Question 7

Benign

Answer 7

Tumor that does not invade normal tissues or invasion is limited

Question 8

Malignant Tumor

Answer 8

Tumor invades the surrounding tissues

Question 9

Primary Tumor

Answer 9

Original tumor

Question 10

Secondary Tumor

Answer 10

tumor stemming from the original tumor

Question 11

Define metastasis and identify the four most common sites of metastasis

Answer 11

Metastasis - cancer migrates to another location. Four most common sites: Lung, liver, brain, and bones.

Question 12

What are the three progressive stages of carcinogenesis?

Answer 12

initiation, promotion, and progression

Question 13

Initiation

Answer 13

Transformation of DNA by chemical, viral, radiation, or more rapidly

Question 14

Promotion

Answer 14

Initiated cells multiply and escape protective mechanisms (neoplasm established)

Question 15

Progression

Answer 15

Tumor cells aggregate and grow. develop into a fully malignant neoplasm.

Question 16

CIPN

Answer 16

Cancer Induced peripheral neuropathy - damaged peripheral nerves causes severe pain, problems breathing, paralysis, or organ failure

Question 17

Generation time vs. Growth fraction

Answer 17

Generation time - the time required to complete a full cycle Growth fraction - number of cells actively dividing, divided by the total number of tumor cells present.

Question 18

What are tumor markers and what are their roles?

Answer 18

Tumor markers are signs found in bodily fluids that aid in the dx and tx options as well as the stage of cancer

Question 19

Tumor grade

Answer 19

Histology, how abnormal and how fast your cancer will spread

Question 20

Tumor Staging

Answer 20

Location spread, and number of tumors.

Question 21

Chemotherapy

Answer 21

Use of drugs to kill tumor cells, which are emetogenic, given in intervals called cycles

Question 22

Targeted cancer therapies

Answer 22

Block growth and spread of cancer, less harmful than normal. Interfere with specific molecules involved in tumor growth and progression.

Question 23

Adjuvant treatment

Answer 23

treatments that are going on simultaneously.

Question 24

Palliative treatments

Answer 24

Treatment that only address symptoms

Question 25

Why does chemotherapy effect renewing cells in the body? How does that contribute to the serious side effects found in chemotherapy?

Answer 25

Chemotherapy addresses cancer cells, which are rapidly dividing cells. This leads to hair loss, weight loss, an inability to consume foods, nausea vomiting, and mouth sores.

Question 26

Define Chemobrain

Answer 26

chemo fog. Mental symptoms

Question 27

What is the time frame for when the side effects of radiation therapy tend to appear after starting the radiation treatment?

Answer 27

2-3 weeks develop; resolve in 2-4 weeks after.

Question 28

Identify and explain the nutritional effects of cancer

Answer 28

Alt. metabolism, hyper metabolic state, can’t preserve lean body mass, almost impossible to avoid the body’s catabolic response.

Question 29

Hypercalemia and cancer. Symptoms

Answer 29

Hypercalemia suggests a poor prognosis. present in 10-20% of cancer patient. Symptoms: heart arrhythmia, muscle weakness etc.

Question 30

Why is the nutritional status of the cancer patient important in prognosis?

Answer 30

Goal: minimize the nutritional deficiencies and weight loss. Leads to enhanced immune system, energy, stamina, replace healthy cells.

Question 31

Cancer Cachexia Syndrome

Answer 31

Most severe form of weight loss experienced by people w/cancer associated with advanced stage or late stage cancer. It is irreversible

Question 32

MNT Strategies in the Cancer Patient

Answer 32

1) Emphasize protein and nutrient density 2) stimulate appetite 3) use supplements 4) eat meals throughout the day 5) intervene soon( when greater than 5% of body weight has been lost).