Vascular - Cancers & Antineoplastic Agents Flashcards
1
Q
Cancer & Metastases
A
- any disease where uncontrolled proliferation of cells occurs - alteration in the DNA
- abnormalities in the regulation of cell growth, causes tissue damage & death
- metastases - known as secondaries
- tumors of masses of cells that develop when cancer cells break away from the original cancer
- carried by lymphatic system & blood systems to other parts of the body
2
Q
Cancer - Risk Factors
A
- tocacco use
- being overweight or obese
- low fruit & vegetable intake
- physical inactivity
- alcohol use
- sexually transmitted HPV-infection
- urban air pollution
- indoor smoke from household use of solid fuels
3
Q
Cancer - Cell Division
A
- not all cells divide simultaneously, many are dormant, proportion of resting cells varies
- growth factor - proportion of cells in a tissue involved in cell division
4
Q
Cancer - Treatment - Surgery
A
- remove tissue from specific sites in the body
- primary treatment of choice for many solid tumors such as cancers of the bowel or breast
- often used in combination with chemo or radiotherapy
5
Q
Cancer - Treatment - Radiotherapy
A
- radiation therapy - uses high energy radiation to destroy cancer cells, or impede their growth
- used both as curative as well as to relieve pain and discomfort
6
Q
Cancer - Treatment - Chemotherapy
A
- use of drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells
- inhibit or prevent the development, maturation and proliferation of malignant cells
7
Q
Cancer - Treatment - Hormone Therapy
A
- some Ca growth is dependent on a particular hormone,
- can slow size or growth rate slowed by drugs that suppress the body’s production of the hormone or that block the effect of that hormone
- commonly used in prostate, breast & uterine cancers
8
Q
Cancer - Treatment - Complimentary Therapies
A
- herbal
- immunological
- metabolic
- mind-body therapies
- nutritional therapies
9
Q
Cancer - Treatment - Cytotoxic - Gendotoxic
A
- affect nucleic acids & alter function, or may directly bind to DNA, or lead to DNA damage by affecting enzymes involves in DNA replication
10
Q
Cancer - Treatment - Alkylating Agents
A
- inserts an alkyl group into the structure of the DNA, stops cellular proliferation, cells can no longer divide
11
Q
Antimetabolites
A
- cell cycle specific, attack cells at very specific stages in the cycle, stopping normal development and division
- inhibit folic acid synthesis
- classified according to the substances with which they occur
- must be administered when cancer cells are profilerating
12
Q
Antibiotics
A
- prevent cell division
- bind to DNA making it unable to seperate
- inhibiting RNA preventing enzyme synthesis
- bleomycin sulfate
- dactinomycin
13
Q
Mitotic Poisons
A
- interfere with mechanics of cell divisions
- block formation of spindle fibres, which are required for cell replication, if the cell cannot replicate it will eventually die
- vinca alkaloids
- vincristine, vinblastine
- taxanes
- paclitaxel, docetaxel
14
Q
Combined Therapies
A
- treatments combined for several reasons
- one treatement may be more effective at a certain stage than another
- one treatment may enhance the effectiveness of another synergy
- one treatment alone may not affect the tumor
15
Q
Adverse Reactions - Early
A
- GIT: nausea, vomiting, anorexia, constipation & diarrhoea
- mucositis
- hypersensitivity reactions, puritis, rash
- fever, headache
- hypotension
- weakness, pain
- blistering & necrosis of skin (esp alkylating agents)
