What is Cancer?
Hospital
Treatment
Lines
Key Words
100
True or False
Cancer is contagious and be spread like germs
False
100
A large part of finding accurate and good treatment is to understand your ____
Diagnosis
100
Surgery:
What is it?
How is it done?
What may happen as a result? (side effects)
Surgery is also called an operation.
It is the removal of a solid tumor.
A surgeon operates to remove the tumor. Drugs are used so that the patient is asleep during surgery.
Side effects include:
• Pain after the surgery
• Feeling tired
• Other side effects depend on the area of the body and the extent of the operation
100
What is a blood draw?
A blood draw (sometimes called a blood test) is a way to collect blood so that lab testing can be done to check one's health.
100
What is a tumor?
A group of uncontrollably dividing cells
200
Difference between a benign and malignant tumor
Benign tumors aren’t cancer. They can often be removed and don’t spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant tumors are cancer. Cells in these tumors are abnormal and divide and grow without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and also spread to organs in other parts of the body.
200
What is the difference between an inpatient vs. outpatient visit?
In the most basic sense, an inpatient is someone admitted to the hospital to stay overnight.
Outpatient care, also called ambulatory care, is anything that doesn’t require hospitalization.
200
Chemotherapy:
What is it?
How is it done?
What may happen as a result? (side effects)
Chemotherapy is the use of medicine to destroy cancer cells.
The medicine can be given as a pill, as an injection (shot), or through an intravenous (IV) line. It is often given in cycles that alternate between treatment and rest periods.
Side effects:
• Feeling sick to the stomach or throwing up
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Hair loss
• Feeling very tired
• Mouth sores
200
What is an IV?
A special tube that puts medicine or water into a vein
200
What is metastasis?
The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.
300
Why do people get cancer?
The causes of most cancers are not known. Scientists are still learning about things that may put people at a higher risk for certain types of cancer. Risk factors for cancer include age, a family history of certain cancers, use of tobacco products, being exposed to radiation or certain chemicals, infection with certain viruses or bacteria, and certain genetic changes.
300
What is a support group?
A group where people talk about their feelings and what they have gone through. It may be a platform to trade advice with each other and help others dealing with the same kinds of issues.
300
Radiation therapy:
What is it?
How is it done?
What may happen as a result? (side effects)
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy rays or high-energy particles to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Radiation may come from a machine outside the body or from radioactive material placed in the body near the cancer cells.
Side effects:
• Feeling tired
• Red or sore skin
• Other side effects depend on the area of the body and the dose of radiation
300
What is a port-a-cath?
A port-a-cath is used to give intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, chemotherapy, and other drugs. It is also used for taking blood samples. A port-a-cath may stay in place for a long time and helps reduce the need for repeated needle sticks. 
300
What is a remission?
Every year scientists discover better ways to treat cancer. That means many people are successfully treated for cancer. However, doctors are careful not to use the word “cure” until a patient remains free of cancer for several years. Cancer treatment may cause a remission, which means that the doctor can’t find signs of cancer.
400
Can doctors cure cancer?
Every year scientists discover better ways to treat cancer. That means many people are successfully treated for cancer. However, doctors are careful not to use the word “cure” until a patient remains free of cancer for several years. Cancer treatment may cause a remission, which means that the doctor can’t find signs of cancer. But sometimes the cancer comes back. This is called a relapse or recurrence.
400
What is hospice care?
End-of-life care, usually provided for patients who are not expected to recover, and no longer receiving treatment
400
Stem Cell Transplant:
What is it?
How is it done?
What may happen as a result? (side effects)
Stem cell transplantation can be a bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or a peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). The use of stem cells found in either the bone marrow or the blood. This repairs stem cells that were destroyed by high doses of chemo and/or radiation therapy.
Stem cell transplantation uses stem cells from the patient or from donors. In many cases the donors are family members. The patient gets these stem cells through an IV line.
The side effects can be much like those from chemo and radiation therapy. In some cases, the side effects may be more serious.
400
What is a Hickman line?
400
What is a stem cell?
A cell that has the capability to become any other type of cell your body may need
500
Name two differences between a cancer cell and a normal cell
- Cancer cell grow without signs telling them to grow, while normal cells grow when they receive such signals
- Cancer cells ignore signals that normally tell cells to stop dividing or to die
- Cancer cells invade into nearby areas and spread to other areas of the body, while normal cells stop growing when they encounter other cells
- Cancer cells hide from the immune system
- Cancer cells may have more or less chromosomes than normal cells
500
What is palliative care?
Care that makes patients feel better, but doesn't treat the disease itself
500
Biological therapy:
What is it?
How is it done?
What may happen as a result? (side effects)
Biological therapy is called immunotherapy. Biological therapy uses the body’s own defense system (the immune system) to fight cancer.
Patients may be given medicine in pills, as an injection, or through an IV line.
Side effects:
Flu-like symptoms such as:
• Chills
• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Weakness
• Feeling sick to the stomach or throwing up
• Diarrhea
500
What is a PICC Line?
A PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) is a soft tube that is placed into a vein in the arm. 
500
What is relapse or recurrence?
When cancer comes back.