Set 07 — Cancer Basics Screening and Staging

Vocabulary review flashcards covering cancer fundamentals, pathophysiology, screening, TNM staging, prevention, and nursing care from Adult Health II.

Hyperplasia

Increase in the number of otherwise normal cells.

Dysplasia

Abnormal cell growth and tissue organization.

Carcinoma in situ

Malignant cells confined above the basement membrane.

Metastasis

Cancer spread to distant sites.

Angiogenesis

Tumor-stimulated formation of new blood vessels.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Carcinoma

Cancer arising from epithelial tissue.

Sarcoma

Cancer arising from connective or supportive tissue.

Tissue biopsy with histopathology

The definitive test for many cancers.

TNM T

Size or extent of primary tumor.

TNM N

Regional lymph node involvement.

TNM M

Distant metastasis.

Stage IV cancer

Cancer with distant metastatic spread.

PET imaging

Imaging modality useful for identifying metabolically active tumor sites.

BRCA1 and BRCA2

Inherited variants that increase breast/ovarian cancer risk.

TNM staging

Staging system describing primary tumor extent, lymph node spread, and distant metastasis.

Grading vs. Staging

Grade describes cell abnormality; stage describes disease extent.

Warning signs of possible malignancy

Unexplained weight loss, persistent bleeding, or changing mass.

Tobacco exposure

A major modifiable cancer risk.

Primary cancer prevention

Reducing risks such as smoking and preventable infections.

Secondary cancer prevention

Screening to detect disease before symptoms develop.

Screening recommendations variation

Variability based on differences in age, personal history, family history, and risk factors.

Biopsy

Procedure to obtain tissue for definitive pathologic diagnosis.

Metastasis (Organ and tissue spread)

Spread of malignant cells to distant organs or tissues.

Tumor markers

Clinical markers that support monitoring or selected diagnoses; rarely diagnose alone.

Palliative care

Care aimed to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life at any disease stage.

Psychosocial nursing needs in cancer

Assessing distress, support systems, coping, and patient goals.