CANCER TREATMENT MODALITIES
Page 1: Title
ONCOLOGY CONCEPTS, CANCER TREATMENT MODALITIES AND NURSING MANAGEMENT Ms. BRENDA OKOTH
Page 2: Oncology Concepts
Cancer Cell Multiplication: Cancer cells can self-generate growth factors to sustain division, often mismanaging normal cell behavior.
Historical Perspective: Hippocrates described cancer as "karkinos" meaning crab, indicating a tumor with surrounding blood vessels, and "onkos" reflecting mass.
Page 3: Types of Tumors
Cancer Cell Behavior: Cancer cells disregard division halting signals.
Solid vs. Liquid Tumors: Solid tumors are analyzable on organs (e.g., breast, lung); liquid tumors circulate in blood/lymph (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma).
Page 4: Benign vs. Malignant Neoplasms
Benign Characteristics: Well-differentiated, encapsulated, slow-growing, local effects, minimal tissue damage, generally non-lethal.
Malignant Characteristics: Undifferentiated, invasive, variable growth rate, metastatic, widespread effects, and typically lethal if not controlled.
Page 5: Cancer Causes and Replicative Immortality
Replicative Immortality: Cancer cells can divide indefinitely, unlike normal cells limited to 40-60 divisions.
Possible Causes of Cancer: Genetics, environmental exposure, lifestyle, viruses, hormone exposure, and drug interactions.
Page 6: Cancer Behavior and Telomerase
Loss of Contact Inhibition: Indicates a failure in maintaining tissue balance by halting division.
Localized vs. Metastatic Cancer: Localized remains within one area; metastatic spreads to distant sites.
Role of Telomerase: Cancer cells express telomerase to prevent chromosome end erosion during division.
Page 7-12: Hallmarks of Cancer
Key features: Sustained signaling, evading death, and inducing angiogenesis and metastasis.
Replicative Immortality: Unlimited division potential; telomeres lose length with age, impacting division.
Page 13: Telomere Shortening
Telomere erosion is associated with aging and stress factors.
Page 14-15: Nutrient Supply and Mobility
Tumors require nutrients, leading to angiogenesis and the capability of metastasis through EMT.
Page 16: Genome Instability
Cancer cells demonstrate increased mutation rates, making them more susceptible to genetic changes.
Page 17-19: Cancer Prevention Strategies
Primary Prevention: Reducing risks through health promotion (e.g., HPV vaccines).
Secondary Prevention: Screening for early detection of cancer.
Tertiary Prevention: Monitoring survivors for recurrence and second cancers.
Page 20-21: Cancer Diagnosis
Based on physical exams, imaging, and lab tests to assess the cancer's presence, extent, and impact on body systems.
Page 22-24: Tumor Staging and Grading
Staging: Classifies tumor size, invasion, and metastasis (often using TNM system).
Grading: Evaluates tumors based on differentiation and aggressiveness, from well-differentiated (Grade 1) to poorly differentiated (Grade 4).
Page 25-26: Diagnostic Tools and Symptoms
Overview of diagnostic aids (tumor markers, imaging) and common signs like fatigue, lumps, and skin changes.
Page 27-30: Surgical Treatments
Prophylactic Surgery: Preventive removal of at-risk tissues.
Palliative Surgery: For symptom relief when cure isn't possible.
Reconstructive Surgery: Following curative surgery for functional/cosmetic reasons.
Page 31-34: Radiation Therapy Overview
Radiation is utilized in nearly 50% of cancer patients, aimed at cure, control, or neoadjuvant treatment. Dosage is tailored based on tumor characteristics and surrounding tissue sensitivity.
Page 35-36: Nursing Management in Radiation Therapy
Assess and monitor side effects; provide patient support throughout therapy.
Page 37: Safety in Radiation Therapy
Implement safety measures for patients receiving brachytherapy to minimize exposure.
Page 38-42: Chemotherapy
Mechanisms of antineoplastic agents, their impact on tumor growth, and the nursing management of side effects and administration protocols.
Page 43-46: Bone Marrow Transplantation
Overview of sources (allogeneic, autologous, syngeneic) and comprehensive nursing management during and after procedures.
Page 47-49: Targeted Therapies
Focus on specific cancer cell functions to limit damage to healthy tissue, including various biological response modifiers and cancer vaccines.
Page 50-52: Gene Therapy
Strategies aimed at correcting genetic issues implicated in cancer, with challenges due to mutations.
Page 53-56: Unconventional Therapies
Discussion on CAM and unproven treatments; emphasizes the need for patient-provider communication and education to mitigate risks.
Page 57-61: Nursing Care for Cancer Patients
Holistic nursing approach to manage physical symptoms and emotional support, dealing with pain, fatigue, and body image concerns.
Page 62-64: Monitoring Complications and Home Care
Focus on infection monitoring, patient education, and strategies to assist with home care post-treatment.
Page 65-72: Cancer Classification
Classification by tissue type and primary site; details on different categories including carcinomas, sarcomas, myelomas, leukemias, lymphomas.
Page 73-90: Tumor Types
Provides comprehensive lists of benign and malignant tumors across tissue types, emphasizing the variations and classifications relevant to diagnosis and treatment.