Week 2: Oncology

Question 1

What is chemotherapy?

Answer 1

A treatment of cancer which involves using medicine to destroy cancer cells. It works by killing cells that are rapidly dividing e.g., cancer cells. Also kills normal cells, but they are able to repair damage and can recover, unlike cancer cells.

Question 2

List the side effects of Chemotherapy

Answer 2

• fatigue (tiredness)
• nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite
• pain or soreness, such as headaches, muscle pain or nerve pain
• sores in the throat or mouth
• changes to the skin, such as itching, redness, dryness and acne
• diarrhoea or constipation
• weight gain or weight loss
• hair loss
• changes to libido

Question 3

What is Radiotherapy?

Answer 3

A treatment of cancer which involves the use of radiation to destroy cancer cells.

Question 4

List and describe the 2 types of radiation therapy

Answer 4

External - uses a machine that beams radiation onto the tumor (usually given 5 times per week). Does not make you radioactive
Internal - Involves giving radiation internally via a needle, catheter, or specialized device (stays in place for few days). Pregnant women should avoid getting close

Question 5

List the side effects of radiotherapy

Answer 5

• skin problems such as dryness, itchiness, peeling and blistering
• fatigue
• nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea

Question 6

List and describe the different routes of chemotherapy

Answer 6

• oral chemotherapy that can be taken as pills (tablets, capsules) or liquid
• intravenous (IV) chemotherapy, which involves inserting a needle into a vein, then attaching the chemotherapy medicine to the needle and letting it slowly enter the body
• using a catheter (central line) that was put in during surgery [link to Surgery]
• intramuscular chemotherapy that is injected into a large muscle, such as the thigh or upper arm
• intra-arterial chemotherapy that is injected into an artery that supplies blood to the cancer
• intraperitoneal chemotherapy that is injected into the abdomen
• intrathecal chemotherapy that is delivered directly into the spine (cerebrospinal fluid)
• subcutaneous chemotherapy that is injected just under the skin, usually in the thigh or belly.

Question 7

Outline some complementary therapies for cancer

Answer 7

• massage therapy can have short-term improvements in pain and mood
• yoga may relieve persistent fatigue
• tai chi can help manage fatigue, sleep difficulty, and depression

Question 8

What is neo-adjuvant treatment?

Answer 8

all treatments that are administered before the primary cancer treatment e.g., radiotherapy or chemotherapy used to shrink a tumor before surgery

Question 9

What is adjuvant treatment?

Answer 9

therapy that is administered after the primary treatment e.g., chemo administered after radiation treatment when radiation is the primary treatment