Week 2: Cancer Care Flashcards
What is cancer?
It is a single cell transformation that does not conform to the regulation of cellular differentiation and proliferation and continues to grow
What percentage of diseases does cancer account for in Australia?
18%
How do cancer cells grow?
Uncontrollably and invade other tissues
Do cancer cells die?
No, they are immortal
What does carcinogenesis mean?
It is the process that normal cells turn into cancer cells
What are carcinogens?
A substance that causes cancer or increases the risk of cancer developing
What are some carcinogenetic factors?
Hereditary, hormones, environmental agents, chemical exposure, smoking, alcohol, geography, radiation, older age and bacteria and parasites
What is primary prevention?
Prevents cancer from developing
What is secondary prevention?
Detecting and treating cancer early
What is tertiary prevention?
It focuses on softening the impact on ongoing illness or injury
What is carcinoma?
Tumours of skin and mucous membrane
What is sarcoma?
Tumours of connective tissue or bone
What is Haematopoiesis?
Formation of blood cell components
Where is most blood formed?
Bone marrow
What is myeloma?
Cancer of the plasma cells
What tests are used to diagnose cancer?
Blood tests, urine collection, biopsy, excision, bone marrow biopsy, PET, CT, MRI, bone scan, mammography
What are 3 goals for cancer treatment?
Cure, control and palliate
What are some nursing considerations in cancer care?
risk of infections, AKI, cardiotoxicity
Do normal cells reproduce?
Yes in an organised and orderly manner
How do cancer cells reproduce?
Ability to grow uncrontrollably
Can cancer cells invade other tissue?
Yes
What state do cancer cells remain in?
Undifferentiated
What are the two types of cancer treatment filters?
Oncology and haematology
What is the difference between oncology and haematology?
Oncology is cancer of the tissue/cells and haematology is blood
What is T. N. M in oncology?
It is the way cancer is classificided
What does T stand for in cancer classification?
Primary tumour
What does N stand for in cancer classification?
Regional lymph nodes
What does M stand for in cancer classification?
Distant metastases
What are metastases?
The spread of cancer
Where is most of the blood formed?
Bone marrow
What does haematopoiesis mean?
It is the term for blood cell production
What are the two types of lymphoma?
Either non or Hodgkins lymphoma
What are the two types of leukemia?
Acute or chronic
What is leukemia?
Acute or chronic
What are some options for cancer treatment?
Surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, haematopoetic stem cell transplantation and a combination of therapies
What are the factors that influence treatment?
The actual tumour, the treatment options and the patients wishes
What is radiation therapy?
It is radiation used to hit the cancer cell DNA and breaks it down to kill and shrink tumours
What are the side effects of radiation?
Site-specific toxicities, burns, pain, malnutrition, stenosis
What is chemotherapy?
It is anti-cancer drugs
What cells does chemotherapy effect?
It affects the cells that are rapidly growing
Is chemotherapy cytotoxic?
Yes
What is TLS?
tumour lysis syndrome
What are some nursing considerations for someone having chemotherapy? (Clue what can go wrong)
TLS, bone marrow failure, risk of infection, AKI, cardiotoxicity, haemorrhagic cystitis, hepatotoxicity, mucositis and CNS toxicities
What is haemorrhagic cystitis?
Bladder irritation
What is mucositis?
Inflammation of the gi tract
What is cytotoxic waste management?
It is the safe handling of cytotoxic waste and medication
What are targeted therapies in cancer care?
It is targeting the specific cells that are telling the cancer cells to grow so the medication only targets those bad cells
What are immunotherapies?
Drugs that manipulate the immune system to kill cancer cells
What is stem cell transplantation?
When we give the patient’s own improved stem cells given back to the patient
What are some access devices for systemic treatments?
PICC, POC, IVP and Hickmans
Where do central lines go into?
peripheral veins near heart
Where is PICC inserted?
Arm
Where is portacatheter inserted?
Chest
What does it mean if a word ends in penia?
decreased
What is neutropenic sepsis?
Someone with a high temperature and an extremely low neutrophil count and they have an infection
What is tumour lysis syndrome?
It is when the patient has a high dose of chemotherapy cells bust and the contents goes into the bloodstream which is shown in blood tests
What is tumour lysis syndrome?
It is when the patient has a high dose of chemotherapy cells bust and the contents go into the bloodstream which is shown in blood tests
Where in the cell does cancer begin to form?
Nucleus
What are some clinical signs of ALL in children?
Anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropoenia
What is thrombocytopenia?
Reduced number of platelets
What is neutropenia?
Reduced number of white blood cells
What is ALL?
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
What are some signs and symptoms of ALL in children?
Tired, bruising, low oxygenation, anemia, pale, bleeding, fuzzy head, high heart rate, blood in urine, an dpain
What are some investigations for ALL in children?
Chest x-ray, blood chemistry, liver function tests, cerebrospinal fluid and coagulation profile
What is Pancytopenia?
Reduction in white and red blood cells and platelets
What is gout?
crystalised uric acid
What are some treatment side effects?
Tired, stress, anxiety, pain, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, hair loss, anaemia, infections, sore arms
What are some interventions for high temp?
Antibiotics, head hygiene, sitting upright,
What are interventions for nausea?
Antiemetic
What are interventions for bleeding?
Stop bleeding with pressure, platelet medication, give blood products, vitamin K
