Week 1 oncology Flashcards
What are the 4 most common types of cancer
Lung, brest, prostate and colorectal
what are cancer warning signs
C-Change in bowel or bladder
A- Lesion that does not heal
U-Unusual bleeding or discharge
T-Thickening or lump
I-Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
O-Obvious change in wart or mole
N-Nagging cough or persistent hoarseness
U-Unexplained weight loss
P-Pernicious anemia
Who should have a colon screening performed and how often?
Anyone 50-75 years old should get one every two years
Who should have a cervical screening how often and what test is performed?
Anyone with a cervix aged 25-69 should have one every 3-5 years and it is either a pap test or self cervical screening
Who should have a lung screening what test is done and how often?
People who are at high risk (ex smokers) ages 55-74 should have a low dose CT scan done every 3 years
Who should receive breast screening? What test is done? How often?
people aged 40-59 should be screened every 2 years with a mammogram
Who should receive prostate screening? What test is done? How often?
people with a prostate ages 50-70 should get a digital rectal exam every 3 years
what are the 3 stages of cancer pathology
Initiation
Promotion
Progression
what is involved in the initiation phase of cancer pathology
mutation in the cell’s genetic structure resulting from an inherited mutation, an error that occurs during DNA replication or after exposure to a carcinogen
what is involved in the promotion phase of cancer pathology
the second stage in the development of cancer, is characterized by the reversible proliferation of the altered cells.
what is involved in the progression phase of cancer pathology
when the tumor growth rate increases and metastasis start to occur
what are some of the most common sites for cancer metastasis
Brain
Bone
Liver
Adrenal Gland
what are 4 key factors that can initiate cancer
-Chemical
-Radiation
-Viral and bacterial carcinogens
-Genetic susceptibility
what does carcinoma mean
cancer that starts on the skin or on the tissue that lines or covers internal organs
what does sarcoma mean
cancer of the connective tissue
what structure in the body does leukemia affect
Cancer of the bone marrow
What is stage 0 cancer
when the cancer is in situ and contained
what is stage 1 cancer
Tumor limited to the tissue of origin; localized tumor growth
what is stage 2 cancer
Limited local spread
what is stage 3 cancer
Extensive local and regional spread and the tumor has most likely gown out of the organ it started in to nearby tissue/lymph
what is stage 4 cancer
the cancer has spread through the blood or lymph to a distant site in the body to form metastasis
what are the four classifications of tumor size according to TNM grading scale
TX: unable to measure tumor
T0: No evidence of tumor
TIS: Tumor hasn’t grown into nearby tissue
T1-T4: tumor has grown into nearby tissue to varying degrees
What are the three classifications of lymph node involvement according to the TNM grading scale
NX: unable to evaluate lymph nodes
N0: No cancer found in the lymph nodes
N1-N3: Cancer has spread into lymph nodes to a varying degree
what are the two classifications for metastasis in the TNM grading system
M0 or M1
either it has or hasn’t spread
the patient has been diagnosed with bowel cancer. The tumour has grown through the mucosa and into the muscular layer. There is no lymph node involvement and has not spread to other tissues
Grade this according to TNM
T1-4 N0 M0
The patient has been diagnosed with right sided breast cancer. The tumour has spread to the skin and the chest wall. There are enlarged lymph nodes in the axilla. There is evidence that the cancer has spread to the bone.
Grade this according to the TNM scale
T1-4 N1-2 M1
The patient has been diagnosed with liver cancer. The tumour is localized to a small area in the liver with no lymph node involvement and has not spread to other tissues
Grade this according to the TNM scale
TIS N0 M0
What kind of cancer is surgery a good option for
Good for slow growing tumors
what is a debulking procedure
when they remove as much as possible of the tumor then they try to get the rest of it with chemo/radiation since that works better on smaller tumors
what is brachytherapy
when irradiated material is implanted into the tumor which created fewer side effects
typically what HgB level does a patient have to be at before they receive a transfusion
usually if HgB is less than 80 they will receive a transfusion
what is the number 1 complication from cancer treatment
infection
how does radiation or chemo cause fatigue
-Accumulation of metabolites/metabolic waste,
-energy production might be low from anorexia, increased metabolic demand from the tumor, low HgB
how does radiation or chemo cause anorexia
Increased TNF and IL-1 are appetite suppressants
how does radiation or chemo affect the immune system and blood
-bone marrow suppression causes anemia and low WBC
-also induces thrombocytopenia which can cause bleeding
how does radiation or chemo affect the resp system
can cause pneumonitis and fibrotic lungs
why is diarrhea such a common side effect of chemo or radiation
since the lining of the GI tract are very rapidly dividing cells so they are affected more by the radiation/chemo
how does radiation or chemo affect the cardiovascular system
can create dysrhythmias from changes in electrolytes
a patient with cancer develops thrombocytopenia. The nurse identifies which intervention is the highest priority in the nursing care plan
Monitor for signs of bleeding
what is superior vena cava syndrome
When the SVC become obstructed by a tumor
What are S&S of SVC syndrome
-Faial edema
-Distention of veins in the neck and chest
-Seizures
-Headache
where does a tumor grow in spinal cord compression
Grows within the epidural space of the spinal cord
what are S&S of spinal cord compression
-Back pain that is intense, localized and persistent
-vertebral tenderness that is made worse by the valsalva maneuver
-motor and sensory dysfunction
-autonomic dysfunction ie changes in bowel or bladder function
what is third space syndrome and what can cause it
shifting of fluid from the vascular space to the interstitial space and can be caused by extensive surgical procedures, biological therapy, or septic shock
what are signs and symptoms of third space syndrome
-Edema
-Decreased blood pressure
-Electrolyte changes ie increase in sodium
what is Syndrome of inappropriate ADH?
Some tumors can release ADH causing inappropriate amounts; chemo drugs can also cause the release of ADH
what are S&S of SIADH
-N/V
-Seizures (from the imbalance of electros)
-Hyponatremia (Since the blood is very dilute from the extra fluid)
what kind of cancer causes hypercalcemia
Cancer that involves the bone or if tumors start to secrete parathyroid like hormone
what are the signs and symptoms of hypercalcemia
-Depression
-Muscle weakness
-ECG changes
-Anorexia
-Constipation
Don’t Make Every Apple Cook
*remember Ca does the opposite of its prefix so if it is Hyper- things will go down
what is tumor lysis syndrome and how long after chemo can it occur
When there is rapid destruction of a large number of tumor cells the high amount of byproducts from this process can be toxic to the body; usually occurs 24-48 hours after chemo is initiated
what are the four hallmark signs of Tumor lysis syndrome
-Hyperuricemia (uric acid is a byproduct of cell death)
-Hyperphosphatemia
-Hyperkalemia
-hypocalcemia (because the excess phosphate binds to calcium in the blood)
What are early and late warning signs of septic shock
Early: Increased HR and Resp Rate
Late: Decreased BP and end organ perfusion
What is disseminated intravascular coagulation and what kind of cancer can cause it?
Simultaneous bleeding and clotting and can be caused from liver cancer (since thats where clotting factors are produced)
what is cardiac tamponade
when there is to much fluid in the pericardial sac
how can cancer cause cardiac tamponade
if a tumor restricts the pericardium or pericarditis occurs secondary to radiation of the chest
in what kind of cancer patients is a carotid artery rupture most likely to occur
patients who have cancer of the head and neck or patients who have undergone surgery or radiation therapy where the carotid artery could have been damaged
