The Basics Flashcards

1
Q

List at least the top 4 (out of 10) most common cancers in men (from England 2012 new patients National Statistics)

A
  1. Prostate
  2. Lung
  3. Colorectal
  4. Bladder
  5. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma
  6. Melanoma of the skin
  7. Oesophageal
  8. Renal
  9. Lip, oral cavity and pharyngeal
  10. Leukaemia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

List the at least the top 4 (out of 10) most common cancers in women (from England 2012 new patients National Statistics)

A
  1. Breast
  2. Lung
  3. Colorectal
  4. Uterine
  5. Ovarian
  6. Melanoma
  7. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma
  8. Pancreatic
  9. Leukaemia
  10. Renal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Define ‘Adjuvant’

A

A treatment given after a definitive treatment with an aim to increase the chance of cure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the name for treatment when 2 or more therapies are given simultaneously?

A

Concurrent therapy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is ‘Patient Performance Status’?

A

A standardised way to express a patient’s fitness.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Why is it important to consider a Patients’ Performance Status?

A

This will help to predict survival and help predict the ability to tolerate therapies. It may also guide decisions such as which therapies will be most appropriate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

According to the ECOG scale, what does the following score get defined as; 0?

A

Fully active, able to carry out all pre-disease performance without restriction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

According to the ECOG scale, what does the following score get defined as; 1?

A

Restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out light work

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

According to the ECOG scale, what does the following score get defined as; 2?

A

Ambulatory and capable of self-care but unable to carry out any work activities. Up and about >50% of waking hours.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

According to the ECOG scale, what does the following score get defined as; 3?

A

Capable of only limited self-care. Confined to bed/chair >50% of waking hours.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

According to the ECOG scale, what does the following score get defined as; 4?

A

Completely disabled and confined to bed/chair. No self-care.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

According to the ECOG scale, what does the following score get defined as; 5?

A

Deceased

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is cancer?

A

Uncontrolled division of unhealthy cells that can spread around the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is radiotherapy?

A

In plain terms, it is targeted X-Ray treatment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What happens to cancer cells when they are blasted with ionising radiation?

A

Ionising radiation causes damage to double stranded DNA which causes cell lysis and death

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why is radiotherapy split in its delivery?

A

This allows the normal cells that are hit with the radiation to recover as they recover more fully than the cancer cells

17
Q

What is 1 session of radiotherapy called?

A

A fraction

18
Q

What is the range of fractions of radiotherapy that can be given to patients with cancer?

A

Between 1 and 33 fractions

19
Q

How often is radiotherapy given?

A

Once every day, except weekends usually

20
Q

How long does each fraction of radiotherapy take?

A

15-30 minutes

21
Q

When a patient is receiving radiotherapy as a palliative treatment, how many fractions are usually given?

A

1-10

22
Q

When a patient is receiving radical radio treatment, how many fractions are commonly given?

A

10-33

23
Q

What is of vital importance in patients receiving radiotherapy?

A

Positioning of the patient is crucial

24
Q

What methods do we have for mobilisation of the patient to ensure accurate positioning?

A
  1. Immobilisation shells
  2. Breast/lung boards
  3. Radiotherapy tattoos
  4. Lasers
25
Q

What are the early side effects of radiotherapy due to?

A

Localised inflammation of the tissues targeted by the radiotherapy

26
Q

What are the late side effects of radiotherapy due to?

A

Tissue healing and scarring

27
Q

What are the early side effects of radiotherapy?

A
  1. Fatigue
  2. Pain
  3. Inflammation (-itis)
  4. Skin reaction
  5. Nausea
  6. Raised intracranial pressure
  7. Hair loss
  8. Diarrhoea
28
Q

What are the late side effects of radiotherapy?

A
  1. Fibrosis
  2. Strictures
  3. Osteonecrosis
  4. Rib fractures
  5. A secondary malignancy
29
Q

Which cancers commonly have a radical radiotherapy approach?

A
  1. Lung
  2. Cervix
  3. Prostate
  4. Larynx
30
Q

What is important to consider about tumour position in a live human?

A

The position of the tumour will constantly change due to;

  • breathing
  • eating
  • sneezing
  • coughing

Essentially, anything that can cause organ movement will alter the position of the tumour.

31
Q

How long can it take to just plan radiotherapy with radical intnent?

A

2 weeks

32
Q

What is brachytherapy?

A

Internal radiotherapy whereby ‘seeds’ are internally inserted into the tumour that slowly release the radiotherapy from inside to out. This means it is quite localised to the tumour.

33
Q

Which 2 cancers commonly use brachytherapy?

A
  1. Prostate

2. Cervix

34
Q

When is proton treatment useful?

A
  1. In paediatric patients

2. In patients who’s tumour is located in a sensitive structure

35
Q

What are the benefits of proton treatment?

A

Protons are a form of radiotherapy

They have a much smaller exit dose to other tissues, therefore the spread of tissue affected is much less