What does cancer do to you? Flashcards
What is meant by mass effect?
The effect a tumour can have due to its size
Why is the mass effect always serious in the brain?
Because the brain is tightly enclosed in the skull
How can mass effect cause problems in the body?
It can block off vasculature to organs
It can block airways
It can block off bile ducts leading to jaundice
Why do pancreatic cancers usually present later?
Pancreatic tumours aren’t near other structures so won’t affect any other organs
Why do laryngeal cancers usually present early?
Because they affect the voice very early in their progression
Why do skin cancers usually present early?
They are visible
What name is given to weight loss due to cancer?
Cachexia
How can a tumour cause increased risk of chest infection?
It can reduce airflow out of the lungs, meaning bacteria and water builds up in the lungs, allowing colonisation
What can occur due to a tumour of the kidneys or bladder?
Obstruction of the ureter, preventing the drainage of urine. This causes a backwards pressure of urine, causing a build up of toxins and electrolytes in the blood
What is meant by infiltration?
The direct invasion of other tissue by a tumour
What is a fistula?
A connecting structure formed by a tumour, between 2 previously unattached organs, allowing for the movement of substances from one to the other
How can tumours lead to loss of function, motor function and sensation?
They can infiltrate nerves and nervous tissue
Which type of tumour is one of the only tumour types to cause pain?
Tumours of the parotid glands
How can tumours lead to haemorrhage?
They can erode the walls of large blood vessels, allowing blood to escape, causing haemorrhage
What are paraneoplastic syndromes?
Non-predictable effects of a cancer that are not directly related to the type of tumour
What causes paraneoplastic syndromes?
Genes can be turned on in cancer cells that would not normally be switched on in that type of cell. This means cancer cells can produce hormones or other types of molecule
What is osteoarthropathy?
Enlarged fingers (Digital clubbing)
What is a common symptom of paraneoplastic syndrome caused by a Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the lungs?
Hypercalcaemia caused by the release of PTHrP (Parathyroid Hormone-related protein) from the tumour
What is PUO?
Pyrexia of Unknown Origin - A fever that has no known cause
How can tumours cause immunosuppression?
Via infiltration of the bone marrow, preventing leukocyte production and B-cell maturation
What are some symptoms of immunosuppression by tumours?
Common presence of unusual infections and recurrent infections such as shingles from past exposure to chicken pox
