Chemo Action & General Adverse Effects

Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display what? (3)

1. Uncontrolled growth

2. Invasion that intrudes upon and destroys adjacent tissues

3. Metastasis or spreading to other locations in the body via lymph or blood

Explanation:

1. Uncontrolled growth – may abnormal proliferation ng cells 

2. Invasion that intrudes upon and destroys adjacent tissues – at nadedestroy even the healthy cells 

3. Metastasis or spreading to other locations in the body via lymph or blood. – nagkakaroon ng spreading sa other locations ng body usually lymph or blood.

   Now, obviously, because the cells become abnormal, hindi na siya nagiging functional at nagiging fatal siya for a person.

What are the two pathways that cancer cells use to metastasize?

via the Lymph or Blood

Cancers are classified by what?

The type of cell that the tumor resembles and is therefore presumed to be the origin of the tumor

What are the different types of cancer cells? (CSLLGB)

1. Carcinoma

2. Sarcoma

3. Lymphoma

4. Leukemia

5. Germ Cell Tumor

6. Blastoma

Carcinoma is a cancer derived from what cell?

Epithelial cells that line/cover the body parts 

This group of cancer includes many of the most cancers such that of breast, prostate, lung, and colon.

Carcinoma

Sarcoma is a cancer derived from what type of cell?

from Mesenchymal cells or connective tissue 

Lymphoma and Leukemia are cancer derived from which cells?

Hematopoietic (blood-forming) cells

Germ Cell Tumor is a cancer derived from what cell?

Pluripotent cells 

These are stem cells that give rise to several different types of cells.

Pluripotent cells .

Blastoma is a cancer derived from?

immature "precursor" or embryonic tissue 

This is the type of cancer that already forms during intrauterine life, and are common in children

Blastoma 

What are the two causes of Cancers?

1. Genetics (5-10%)

2. Environmental (90-95%)

Before, cancer is known to be genetic in origin. TF?

True

What are the different environmental causes of cancer?

1. Tobacco – vices 

2. Unhealthy Diet – many of the foods that we eat may contain carcinogens. 

3. Infections 

4. Radiation – from sun or x-ray machines 

5. Stress 

6. Lack of Physical Activity 

7. Environmental Pollutants – e.g. poor air quality

Regardless of the type of cancer, there is a general management for cancer which is usually a combination of 3 things which are?

Combination of:

1. Chemotherapy

2. Radiation Therapy

3. Surgery 

In this type of management, you use or you give very strong chemicals that will kill the cancer cells.

Chemotherapy 

Cancer cell are hard to kill because they can rapidly spread and proliferate (metastasize). TF?

True

Chemotherapy is usually a selective type of treatment. TF?

False. 

It is non-selective

Meaning yes they may kill the cancer cells, pero di kayang mapili yung cancer cell alone. Kumbaga may mga healthy cells na maaapektuhan.

In this type of management, the patient is given radioactive substances.

Radiation Therapy 

This type of radiation therapy can be implanted in the tumor then will kill the cancer cell.

Internal Radiation

In this type of radiation, radiowaves are used wherein a machine is pointed on the site to kill the cancer cells.

External radiation

In this type of cancer management, the cancer cell tumor is removed from the organ/adjacent tissues.

Surgery 

This cancer management refers to relieving the suffering of the person by improving the quality of life, which are usually for those with life-threatening diseases or end-stage diseases like cancer.

Palliative Care 

In this type of cancer management, what is employed are herbal therapies, dietary regimens, mind-body interventions (yoga, acupuncture, massage etc.) 

Alternative Treatment 

Anticancer drugs are selective. TF?

False

Non-selective

Side effects are most often permanent. TF?

False

most often temporary 

The most common route of giving chemotherapy is through what?

The vein (IV)

A general practitioner can give chemotherapeutic drugs. TF?

False

Chemotherapeutic drugs should be given by trained doctors or nurses in the field of cancer 

When taking chemotherapeutic drugs, multidrug resistance can occur. TF?

True

Combination therapy is used in treating cancer because it is more effective to combine chemotherapy with other types of management. TF?

True 

What are the different General Adverse Reactions to Chemotherapy by a patient?

1. Bone Marrow Suppression

2. Gastrointestinal Disturbances

3. Alopecia

4. Infertility

Bone Marrow produces which cells?

1. RBC

2. WBC

3. Platelets 

During chemotherapy, there is bone marrow suppression. This leads to the decrease of which cells?

1. Low RBC Count

2. Low WBC Count

3. Low Platelet Count

This is because it is the bone marrow that produces these cells. Therefore, if it's inhibited, nobody will produce these cells which will lead to their decrease. 

When there is Low RBC Count, the patient is at risk for what?

Anemia

This is because there is low hemoglobin wherein there will be low-oxygen carry capacity, that could lead to episodes of shortness of breath.

What is the cause of the shortness of breath when patients undergo chemotherapy?

This is because of the decreased RBC count wherein there would be not enough RBC to carry oxygen (low oxygen carrying capacity) which makes it hard for the patient to breathe.

Why is a patient undergoing chemotherapy immunocompromised so they must be well-protected to prevent getting sick?

This is because of the Low WBC Count 

When there is low platelet count during chemotherapy, there is an increased risk for what?

Bleeding 

What do you need to teach a patient undergoing chemotherapy, considering that he has a low platelet count?

1. He has an increased risk for bleeding so teach him to use soft-bristle toothbrush, because brushing the teeth may cause easy bleeding sa gums, lalo na sa mucous membrane for they are thin. 

2. For males, teach them to use electric razors to prevent them from getting pricked when they shave using manual razors. 

Chemotherapy can cause a lot of gastrointestinal disturbances, such as?

1. Anorexia

2. Nausea and Vomiting

3. Diarrhea

4. Mucositis

To prevent vomiting, chemotherapeutic patients are given what type of medication?

Anti-emetics 

Because there is diarrhea, vomiting, and anorexia when undergoing chemotherapy, what do you need to assess to the patient?

Check problems associated with fluid and electrolyte 

Mucositis is common in patients undergoing chemo. TF?

True

This is because chemotherapy drugs can kill the cancer cells so what more ang cells ng ating katawan na maninipis lang and one of which is mucositis or the membranes of the oral cavity. Kaya nga importante ang pagtuturo ng soft-bristle toothbrush.

Why does alopecia occur during chemotherapy?

This is because the cells of the hair is also thin. 

Another, sa mga maninipis na cells natin na madaling mamatay because of chemotherapy, is the cells of our hair, that’s why alopecia can occur. Nagkakaroon sila ng pagka-kalbo during the chemotherapy cycle.

Alopecia in chemotherapy is permanent. TF?

False

It is temporary, after the cycle, the hair will grow back. 

During chemotherapy, the mother can still get pregnant. TF?

True

There is only infertility, meaning, there is only difficulty in conceiving a child, not necessarily impossible. 

Adverse reactions of chemotherapy are all temporary. TF?

True 

These adverse reactions are temporary depending on the cycle of the chemotherapy. Minsan may mga chemotherapy cycle na it occurs one cycle for this month and then next cycle another month. So kung halimbawa, three cycles ang chemotherapy nya tuloy tuloy doon nya pwede maexperience ang mga adverse effects. But after the cycle mawawala ang mga temporary adverse effects.