week 12 seminar Flashcards
what is the main goal of cancer screening
early detection and prompt treatment to increase survival rates
is a screening test diagnostic
NON
what are three issues with screening tests for patients
- false positives
- false reassurance
- emotional distress
what are 4 OPQRSTU red flag findings that could indicate cancer
- no precipitating events
- slowly progressing/worsening
- nothing helps the symptoms
- constant, all the time, no relief
what is the difference between localised and disseminated cancer
localised: pinpoint tumour
disseminated: systemic, wide spread
which phase or carcinogenesis do carcinogens play a role
initiation phase
which stage of carcinogenesis do diet and excersize play a role
promotion
is initiation phase reversible
no
what is the mneumonic we use for the 6 warning signs of cancer
CAUTION
what are the 6 warning signs of cancer
Change in bowel/bladder habits
A sore that doesn’t heal
Thickening/lump
Indigestion/difficulty swallowing
Obvious change in a wart or mole
Nagging cough or hoarseness
what is the diameter indicating melanoma
over 6mm
which type of lymph nodes will be unilateral
cancer lymph nodesw
what are the characteristics of normal lymph nodes
freely moveable
discrete
soft
non tender
what are the characteristics of cancer lymph nodes
hard, unilateral, persistent, contender, fixed
what are the characteristics of lymph nodes due to infection
bilateral
enlarged
warm
tender
firm but freely moveable
which is the only diagnostic tool that can definitively tell us something is cancer
biopsies
what are the two types of biopsies
needle: fluids
insisional/excisional: solid tissue
wha does cytology look for
looks closely at tissues of cells and bodily fluids
what is radioisotope scanning
Ex. PET scan, lights up if there’s mets
which diagnostic diagnosis bone marrow cancer
bone marrow aspiration (ouch)
whats the difference between grading and staging cancer
grading: classifies cellular aspects, compares cancer to normal cells,
low grade: not that bad
staging: tells us how bad the cancer is
why doesn’t chemo work as well for solid tumours
because they usually have low growth fraction
what is purpura
little red dots on the legs due to thrombocytopenia
what is petechia
ecxema looking red dots also due to thrombocytopenia
which cancer drug may cause cystitis
cyclophosphamide
what are B cell symptoms of lymphomas
weight loss, fever, night sweats
what will ultimately differentiate Hodgkins lymphoma
reed Sternberg cells
