specific cancers

Question 1

lung cancer

Answer 1

-leading cause of cancer related death
-usually diagnosed late
-most often in >65 yrs
-most often seen in AA’s

Question 2

lung cancer etiology

Answer 2

-cigarette smoking
-risk increases with total number of cigarettes smoked, expressed by “cigarette pack year”

Question 3

common causes of lung cancer

Answer 3

-passive smoke
-COPD
-asbestos
-radon
-arsenic
-genetics

Question 4

lung cancer patho

Answer 4

-carcinogen overload
-genetic predisposition
-paralyze the cilia
-lesion development progresses to cancer
-activation of oncogenes
-deactivation of tumor suppressor genes
-rapid proliferation/destruction/invasion

Question 5

types of lung cancer

Answer 5

-non small cell- slow growing, most common
-small cell- rapidly growing tumor that tends to metastasize quickly

Question 6

S/S of lung cancer

Answer 6

-hemoptysis
-wheeze or stridor
-chest pain
-dyspnea
-weight loss
-excessive fatigue
-weakness
-hoarseness
-obstructive accumulation of secretions in the bronchioles that appear as pneumonia
-often asymptomatic
-paraneoplastic syndrome may be the first sign!

Question 7

paraneoplastic ACTH in lung cancer

Answer 7

-a common paraneoplastic syndrome involves lung tumor secretion of ACTH
-lung tumors can inappropriately secrete ACTH, which chemically resembles melanocyte stimulating hormone
-melanocytes are often stimulated, giving the patient with lung cancer a tanned appearance

Question 8

breast cancer

Answer 8

-most develop from lining in ducts
-overexpressed estrogen receptors
-overexpressed human epidermal growth factor receptor

Question 9

breast cancer risk factors

Answer 9

-greater than 50 yo
-prolonged reproductive life
-no pregnancy (nulliparous)
-hormone replacement therapy
-obesity
-late childrbirth
-family history of breast or ovarian cancer
-BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation

Question 10

BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations

Answer 10

-individuals at higher risk for: breast, ovarian, colon, and pancreatic cancer
-males at increased risk for prostate

Question 11

S/S of breast cancer

Answer 11

-single tumor
-nontender tumor
-firm tumor
-irregular borders
-adherence to the skin or chest wall
-upper, outer quadrant of breast
-nipple discharge
-swelling in one breast
-nipple or skin retraction
-peau d’orange- thickening of skin that resembles orange peel
-paget’s disease of the breast- redness, crusting, pruritus and tenderness of the nipple

Question 12

cervical cancer risk factors

Answer 12

-smoking
-history of STD
-HPV infection
-2 or more lifetime sexual partners
-immunosuppression
-genetics

Question 13

types of HPV

Answer 13

-high risk- causes persistent infection that progresses to cervical cancer
-low risk- causes condylomata (genital warts) but does not cause cancer

Question 14

cervical cancer clinical course

Answer 14

-has a long asymptomatic period before the disease becomes clinically evident
-commonly, an abnormal pap test alerts the individual of a problem
-pap started around age 21, q 3 years

Question 15

colorectal cancer

Answer 15

-beginning at age 5-, all adults should have colonoscopy q 10 yrs

Question 16

polyps

Answer 16

-colon cancer usually starts as polyp, a tumorous mass that projects into the intestinal lumen
-familial adenomatous polyposis is a well defined hereditary disorder that predisposes to intestinal polyps

Question 17

colorectal cancer risk factors

Answer 17

-obesity
-tobacco use
-physical inactivity
-insulin resistance
-low fiber diet
-high amount of animal fat
-diet low in vitamin A, C, and E
-UC
-heavy alcohol use

Question 18

S/S of colorectal cancer

Answer 18

-fatigue, weakness
-weight loss
-iron deficiency anemia
-changes in bowel habits
-melena
-diarrhea
-constipation
-ribbon like stool