Wk. 2 - Care of Persons with Canccer

What are the most common cancers in U.S. men?

Prostate, lung and bronchus, colon and rectum, bladder.

What are the most common cancers in U.S. women?

Breast, lung and bronchus, colon and rectum, uterus.

Which cancer causes the most deaths in the U.S.?

Lung and bronchus cancer.

What are the top five deadliest cancers in the U.S.?

Lung and bronchus, colon and rectum, pancreas, breast, prostate.

What is primary cancer prevention?

Educating on modifiable risk factors

What is secondary cancer prevention?

Screening (mammograms, PSA tests) and monitoring for CAUTION signs.

What does the CAUTION mnemonic stand for?

Change in bowel/bladder habits, A sore that doesn’t heal, Unusual bleeding/discharge, Thickening lump, Indigestion/swallowing difficulty, Obvious change in mole, Nagging cough/hoarseness

What is tertiary cancer prevention?

Managing treatment side effects and supporting symptom management.

What is cancer?

Uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.

What are proto-oncogenes?

Genes that promote cell growth; mutations turn them into oncogenes.

Give an example of a proto-oncogene mutation.

HER-2 overexpression

What are tumor suppressor genes?

Genes that control cell division; inactivation leads to cancer.

Give an example of a tumor suppressor gene mutation.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations

What happens during the initiation phase of cancer?

A DNA mutation occurs.

What happens during the promotion phase of cancer?

Mutated cells proliferate

What happens during the progression phase of cancer?

Tumor grows, invades tissue, and may metastasize.

What is immune surveillance?

The immune system detects and destroys abnormal cells.

How do cancer cells evade the immune system?

By suppressing immune response, mutating, and expressing checkpoint proteins.

What is an example of an immune checkpoint inhibitor?

Pembrolizumab.

What are carcinomas?

Cancers from epithelial cells (e.g., lung, breast, prostate).

What are sarcomas?

Cancers from connective tissue (e.g., bone, muscle).

What are lymphomas?

Cancers from the lymphatic system.

What are leukemias?

Cancers from blood-forming tissues.

What does TNM staging stand for?

Tumor size, Node involvement, Metastasis presence.

What is the purpose of surgery in cancer treatment?

To remove tumors

How does chemotherapy work?

Systemic drug therapy targeting rapidly dividing cells.

How does radiation therapy work?

Uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells.

What is endocrine therapy used for?

Blocking hormone-driven cancer growth

What is immunotherapy?

Boosting the immune system to fight cancer

What is targeted therapy?

Attacking specific cancer cell markers

What are antimetabolites?

Drugs that mimic nutrients to interfere with cancer cell function.

What are antitumor antibiotics?

Drugs that damage DNA and block synthesis.

What are antimitotics?

Drugs that prevent cell division by targeting microtubules.

What are alkylating agents?

Drugs that prevent DNA and RNA synthesis.

What are topoisomerase inhibitors?

Drugs that cause DNA breakage, preventing replication.

Name one chemotherapy administration method.

IV infusion

What is external beam radiation?

Radiation delivered from a linear accelerator.

What is brachytherapy?

Internal placement of radioactive seeds near the tumor.

What are acute side effects of chemotherapy?

Anaphylaxis, nausea, arrhythmias.

What are delayed side effects of chemotherapy?

Hair loss, mucositis, bone marrow suppression.

What are late effects of radiation therapy?

Fibrosis, infertility, heart and lung complications.

What is the main treatment for superior vena cava syndrome?

Radiation or chemotherapy for tumor shrinkage.

What is the first-line treatment for spinal cord compression?

High-dose corticosteroids and radiation therapy.

What is a key sign of hypercalcemia of malignancy?

Altered mental status, fatigue, constipation.

What is the treatment for tumor lysis syndrome?

IV hydration, electrolyte correction, and rasburicase.

What is neutropenic fever?

Fever with an absolute neutrophil count <500 cells/μL.

What is the first intervention for neutropenic fever?

Empirical IV broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Name one 5-HT3 receptor antagonist used for CINV.

Ondansetron.

How do corticosteroids help with CINV?

They reduce inflammation and enhance antiemetic effects.

Name a non-pharmacologic intervention for CINV.

Dietary modifications