Cancer basics
How do malignant tumors grow?
By invasion
What is teletherapy and how is it performed on the patient?
It is a form of radiation therapy that uses an external beam on the patient. It is performed for short periods of time daily, and is done at a distance from the body.
Hypercalcemia occurs most often in cancer patients with ________
bone metastasis
What happens to WBC with chemotherapy and what does this mean for the patient?
WBC decreases . This result means the immune system has been weakened and therefore reduces the body's ability to fight infection.
What are the 3 main symptoms of pancreatic cancer?
Painless jaundice
Pruritis
Weight loss
What is a key feature of cancer cells?
The loss of apoptosis
What are two common side effects of radiation therapy?
altered taste sensation, fatigue related to increased energy demands, local skin changes/hair loss, inflammatory responses that cause tissue fibrosis and scarring.
Why is it important to hydrate patients with tumor lysis syndrome?
To increase urine output to excrete and get rid of the dead cells and excess potassium
What lab values will be abnormal with Liver Cancer?state whether those levels will be increased or decreased.
Increased serum bilirubin levels
Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase
Decreased serum albumin concentrations
A 63 year old with a history of radiation exposure and who is exhibiting the following symptoms most likely has what type of cancer?
Insidious with weakness, pallor, and acute confusion, Enlargement of spleen, liver, and lymph nodes
acute leukemia
What is the importance of staging and cancer classification?
They classify clinical aspects of the cancer and determines exact location and degree of metastasis at time of diagnosis.
What are 3 important things to remember while caring for a patient undergoing radiation therapy?
1. do not use lotions/ointments on these patients v 2. do not remove markings 3. avoid direct exposure of skin to the sun 4. administer skin care 5. care for xerostomia (dry mouth) 6. The bone exposed to radiation is more vulnerable to fracture
Potassium and uric acid tend to increase with tumor Lysis syndrome...why is this?
When the cells are destroyed, their contents are released...leading to increase Potassium and Uric acid.
Which lab values tend to decrease after chemo?
Potassium, calcium, and magnesium
Name two of the four general disease-related consequences of cancer
Impaired immune and hematopoietic function
Altered gastrointestinal structure and function
Motor and sensory deficits
Decreased respiratory function
What are 4 dietary habits that help reduce cancer risk?
6. eat more veggies 7. eat foods high in Vitamin A and Vitamin C
What normal cells are most affected as a result of chemotherapy? (there are 5)
the skin, hair, intestinal tissues, spermatocytes, and blood-forming cells
What is DIC and what are the consequences of getting DIC?
DIC is a problem with the blood clotting process that causes widespread clotting, using up all clotting factors and platelets. Once these are used up, the patient is at very high risk for serious bleeding. The excessive clotting leads to a decrease in blood flow to major organs and the body, which can lead to: Pain, stroke like manifestations, dyspnea, tachycardia, oliguria, bowel necrosis
What is a possible diagnosis for patient with increased PT and PTT?
acute DIC, severe liver disease, warfarin overdose
What are three early and three late stage signs of Superior Vena Cava syndrome?
Early-edema of face, stokes sign, edema of arms and hands, dyspnea, erythema, epistaxis
Late-hemorrhage, cyanosis, change in mental status, decreased cardiac output, and hypotension
What are three methods of chemo-prevention that may be used as a primary prevention for cancer?
1.Block an inactive compound
2.Block the direct action of a carcinogen on DNA
3.Enhance the rate of elimination of a carcinogen from the body
4.Suppress the activity of a carcinogen
5.Suppress the promoting activity of a carcinogen
6.Suppress the progression of premalignant or early-stage malignancy
What is SIADH, where can it be found, and how is it treated/managed?
Syndrome of Inappropriate antidiuretic hormone. Water is reabsorbed to excess by the kidney and put into system circulation. most commonly in carcinoma of lung. Managed by: Fluid restriction, Increased sodium intake, and Drug therapy with demeclocycline that works in opposition to antidiuretic hormone
What is ITP, what causes it, and how can it be treated?
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets needed for normal blood clotting. ITP occurs when certain immune system cells produce antibodies against platelets.The antibodies attach to the platelets then the body destroys those platelets with attached antibodies. Treatment includes corticosteroids, surgery (spleen removal), or injections of immune globulin
What happens with BUN and creatinine levels as a result of chemotherapy?
they become elevated
What are 5 important elements to remember when caring for someone with thrombocytopenia? (there are 7)
1.Handle client gently 2.Use lift sheet when moving or positioning the client in bed 3. Avoid IM injections or venipunctures 4.Use smallest gauge needles if IV is necessary 5.Hold pressure to needle stick sites for at least 10 minutes 6.Apply ice to areas of trauma 7.Test all urine and stool for occult blood