Cancer Basics & Behavior
What distinguishes malignant tumors from benign tumors?
Answer: Their ability to invade nearby tissues and metastasize.
What oncologic emergency is indicated by hyperkalemia, high uric acid, and flank pain during chemotherapy?
Answer: Tumor lysis syndrome.
Which inheritance pattern requires two abnormal alleles for disease expression?
Answer: Autosomal recessive.
Severe abdominal pain, rigid uterus, and fetal distress are signs of what emergency?
Answer: Abruptio placentae.
What spinal deformity is identified by uneven shoulders and rib hump on forward bend?
Answer: Scoliosis.
What renal change in aging increases the risk of drug toxicity?
Answer: Reduced nephron number → decreased GFR.
What term describes the process by which a normal cell becomes cancerous through accumulated mutations?
Answer: Carcinogenesis.
Radiation commonly causes suppression of which body system?
Answer: Bone marrow.
What chromosomal condition presents with hypotonia, single palmar crease, and congenital heart defects?
Answer: Down syndrome (Trisomy 21).
Which condition presents with painless, bright red bleeding in late pregnancy?
Answer: Placenta previa.
What hallmark complication of anorexia nervosa requires urgent ECG monitoring?
Answer: Dangerous bradycardia due to electrolyte imbalance.
What age-related change causes gray hair?
Answer: Loss of melanin.
What does cancer “grading” measure?
Answer: The degree of cellular differentiation.
What is the purpose of angiogenesis in tumor growth?
Answer: To create new blood vessels that supply nutrients to the tumor.
What life-threatening complication can occur in Marfan syndrome presenting with sudden chest pain?
Answer: Aortic dissection.
What metabolic issue in pregnancy produces large infants and risk for newborn hypoglycemia?
Answer: Gestational diabetes.
Fever, bone pain, and bruising in an adolescent should raise concern for what condition?
Answer: Leukemia.
Confusion + mild fever + incontinence in an older adult typically indicates what until proven otherwise?
Answer: Infection (often UTI).
What systemic cancer effect causes weight loss despite adequate nutrition?
Answer: Tumor-induced cachexia due to cytokine-driven hypermetabolism.
Why is chemotherapy given after tumor removal surgery?
4. Why is chemotherapy given after tumor removal surgery?
Answer: To target residual microscopic cancer cells.
What diagnostic test allows first-trimester confirmation of chromosomal abnormalities?
Answer: Chorionic villus sampling (CVS).
What condition is characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, and generalized edema?
Answer: Preeclampsia.
What viral infection in teens requires strict avoidance of contact sports due to splenomegaly risk?
Answer: Infectious mononucleosis.
What hormonal change in aging women contributes to osteoporosis risk?
Answer: Reduced estrogen after menopause → low vitamin D activation.
A patient with fever while receiving chemotherapy must be treated as what clinical emergency?
Answer: Neutropenic infection.
Painful oral mucositis from treatment is best managed with what dietary approach?
Answer: High-calorie soft/liquid diet with frequent saline rinses.
Which disorder requires strict dietary protein restriction due to toxic metabolite buildup?
Answer: Phenylketonuria (PKU).
During which gestational period do teratogens cause major structural defects?
Answer: The first 2 months of pregnancy.
What is the most common cause of secondary hypertension in adolescents?
Answer: Renal disease.
Impaired vasoconstriction in older adults primarily affects what physiologic ability?
Answer: Temperature regulation.