Screening for cancer

Question 1

Name some Predisposing factors to cancer that the therapist must watch for during the interview process as red flags

Answer 1

Previous personal history of cancer
Age in correlation with a personal or family hx of cancer
Age and gender (depends on cancer type)
Exposure to environmental and occupational toxins
Geographic location
Lifestyle (alcohol, tobacco, diet)

Question 2

How can you monitor exercise levels in an oncology patient without lab values?

Answer 2

Take vitals and RPE scale

Look for signs and symptoms (pallor, dyspnea, unexplained or excessive diaphoresis, heart palpitations, visual changes)

Question 3

Where are clients most likely to present with signs and symptoms of metastases?

Answer 3

Skeletal system
Hepatic system
Pulmonary System
CNS

Question 4

What is the significance of nerve root compression in relation to cancer?

Answer 4

In any individual, any neurologic sign may be the presentation of a silent lung tumor

Question 5

What does CAUTIONS stand for?

Answer 5

C = Changes in bowel or bladder
A = A sore that does not heal within 6 weeks
U = Unusual bleeding discharge
T = Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere
I = Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
O = Obvious change in a wart or mole
N = Nagging cough or hoarseness
S = Supplemental signs and symptoms (weight loss, changes in vitals, infections, night pain, DTRs)

Question 6

What 3 questions do you ask when you palpate/observe a lump or nodule?

Answer 6

How long have you had this?
Has it changed over past 6 weeks to 6 months?
Has your physician examined this area?

Question 7

Is being able to determine whether a client’s symptoms are caused by the delayed effects of radiation as opposed to being signs of recurring cancer in the scope of a physical therapists?

Answer 7

NO

Ask about constitutional symptoms and report to physician

Question 8

When tumors produce signs and symptoms at a site distant from the tumor or its metastasized sites, these “remote effects” of malignancy are called?

Answer 8

Paraneoplastic Syndrome?

Question 9

What symptoms would require immediate referral to a physician from a patient who has recently completed chemo?

Answer 9

Fever, Chills, Sweating

Question 10

What is the significance of Beau’s lines in a client treated with chemotherapy for leukemia?

Answer 10

It shows impaired nail formation from death of cells

Question 11

When do you take a work/military history of a patient?

Answer 11

Anyone that presents with joint pain of unknown cause accompanied by multiple other signs and symptoms