Treatment of Cancer Flashcards
Cure rates for mastectomy and lumpectomy in breast cancer
mastectomy equals lumpectomy plus radiation
Common debilitating complication of axillary nodal dissection
lymphedema of the arm
Location of pancreatic cancer that is more difficult to resect and produces symptoms earlier in the course of the disease
mass in the head of the pancreas.
Treatment for ovarian carcinoma that improves response to chemo
Debulking surgical intervention
Oncologic emergency of the spinal cord
any mass on spinal cord. can lead to paralysis within hours. needs emergent decompressive surgery
Important step in evaluating a patient with polycthemia vera
ultrasound to look for renal carcincoma
Surgical treatment for bladder cancer
radical cystectomy
treatment modality that delivers energy to kill malignant cells in the area specifically targeted
radiation therapy
Used for preparatory therapy prior to bone marrow transplant
total body irradiation
type of cells most affected by radiation
cells with rapid turnover
Limitation of chemo
toxicity to normal tissue
treatment given before definitive surgery to shrink mass and allow for less invasive surgical intervention
neoadjuvant therapy
What do the following have in common: alkylating agents, antimetabolites, antibiotics, antimitotics, topoisomerase inhibitors?
they are all cytotoxic chemotherapy agents
chemo agent class that bridge the strands of DNA and prevent DNA division
alkylating agents
Chemo agent that can cause renal tubular damage (kidney failure) and hearling loss
Cisplatin
Chemo agent class whose molecules are chemically similar to cellular building blocks. Substitute parts of DNA or RNA
antimetabolites
Increased toxicity if ascites or pleural effusion present. Also interacts with proton pump inhibitors
methotrexate
Antitumor antibiotic that turns urine ruby red and causes cardiac toxicity
adriamycin
Class of chemo agents that impair mitosis by inhibiting microtubule formation
antimitotic agents
Type of therapy that activates the immune system to fight cancer cells and can cause fluid retention/pleural effusion
immunetherapies
Biologic response modifier. Is an anti-CD20 antibody. Can cause cardiac toxicity, reactivates hepatitis. Used primarily for lymphoma and CLL
rituximab
protein present on 90% of B-cell NHL
CD20
Rare deadly side effect of rituximab
Progressive multifocal leukoecephelopathy
VEGF-blocking humanized monoclonal antibody that has revolutionized treatment of colon cancer. Side effects includes impaired healing, bleeding, thrombosis
Bevacizumab
Development of what class of agents has markedly improved the clinical course of CML
TKIs (Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors)
Used for metastatic Her2 positive breast cancer and metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal cancer
Herceptin
Cancer that responds to immune modulation
melanoma
Immune modulator that can cause full endocrine failure (hypopituitarism, hypoadrenalism, hypothyroidism).
Ipilimumab
Immune modulator that can cause photosensitivity, rash, and hyperglycemia
BRAF inhibitors
Group of patients who gain weight during treatment
breast cancer patients
Benefit of second generation (palonosetron) 5-HT3 receptor agonist over 1st generation (ondansantron)
second generation have longer half lives (40 hrs) and no documented QT prolongation
Medication that is good for anticipatory nausea
Lorazepam
Drugs that help increase appetite or weight gain in cancer patients
megace or corticosteroids
Complications of intrathecal methorexate
aseptic meningitis, transverse myelopathy, Leukoencephalopathy
Quantification of neutropenia
absolute neutrophril count <500
