24 Questions
What is the term for abnormal tissue that grows more rapidly than normal?
Neoplasm
What percentage of cancer deaths in the US is attributed to tobacco use?
30%
What is the most common cause of death in the US, according to the text?
Heart disease
What is the term for cell growth that becomes dysregulated?
Malignancy
What is the most lethal cancer, according to the text?
Lung and bronchus
What is the percentage of lung cancer deaths attributed to smoking?
81%
What is the current rate of adult tobacco use in the US, according to the text?
14%
What is the term for unregulated cell growth in organs?
Solid tumor
What is the primary goal of adjuvant treatment in cancer care?
To lower the risk of cancer recurrence
Which type of radiation therapy is used to treat cancer in areas such as the head and neck, breast, and prostate?
Brachytherapy
What is the role of radiation oncologists and radiation oncology PAs in the interdisciplinary oncology team?
To provide radiation therapy to patients
What is neoadjuvant treatment used for in cancer care?
To shrink a tumor before surgery
Which healthcare professionals are involved in providing oncology care to patients?
A multidisciplinary team including physicians, surgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists, PAs, NPs, nurse educators, and others
What is the focus of oncology care in terms of survivorship?
Supporting patients after treatment to ensure their well-being
What is the most common risk factor for cancer?
Tobacco use
What is the purpose of staging in cancer treatment?
To determine the location and extent of cancer
What is the TNM staging system used for?
To determine the location and extent of cancer
What is the significance of stage IV in cancer staging?
The cancer has spread to distant sites
What is the main goal of debulking surgery in cancer treatment?
To reduce the size of the tumor
What is the difference between systemic chemotherapy and localized chemotherapy?
Systemic chemotherapy is used to treat cancer that has spread, while localized chemotherapy is used to treat cancer that is localized
What is the purpose of stereotactic radiation therapy?
To treat cancer that has spread to the brain
What is the significance of the TNM designations T, N, and M?
T refers to the tumor location, N refers to the nodal status, and M refers to the metastatic status
What is the purpose of brachytherapy in cancer treatment?
To deliver radiation therapy internally
What is the significance of the clinical stage in cancer staging?
It determines the extent of cancer
Study Notes
Definition of Cancer
- Cancer refers to a wide array of disorders characterized by unregulated cell growth.
- The medical and biological term for cancer is neoplasm, which is abnormal tissue that grows more rapidly than normal and continues to grow and proliferate in the absence of the originating growth signal.
Types of Cancer
- Solid tumors: pieces of organ where cells grow out of control and can compress other organs. Examples include epithelial (adenocarcinoma) or squamous cell tumors.
- Liquid/Hematologic cancer: a disease of the bone marrow, functional organ that can become diseased, affecting any of the three cell lines: RBC, WBC, Platelets.
Common Cancers
- Cancer is now the second most common cause of death in the US, with one in five deaths attributed to cancer.
- Deaths from cancer are declining, and cancer survivorship is increasing due to prevention, detection, and treatment strategies.
- The top 10 cancers by rates of new cases include: female breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, colon and rectum cancer, corpus and uterus cancer, melanomas of the skin, urinary bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, kidney and renal pelvis cancer, and pancreas cancer.
Risk Factors for Cancer
- Non-modifiable risk factors: genetic predisposition, sex, and age.
- Modifiable risk factors: #1 tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity, and radiation exposure.
Tobacco Use
- 30% of US cancer deaths are related to tobacco use.
- Tobacco use is linked to at least 12 types of cancer.
Vaping and Nutrition
- Vaping can contain harmful substances, including nicotine, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and carcinogenic substances.
- Prudent recommendations to reduce cancer risk include being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, lowering saturated and trans dietary fats, limiting alcohol use, and avoiding excess sun exposure.
Radiation Exposure
- Individuals exposed to significant radiation doses may increase their lifetime risk of cancer.
- Standardization of CT radiation doses and limiting testing have minimized this risk.
Staging
- Staging refers to the location and extent of cancer.
- The TNM system is used for staging: T (tumor), N (node), and M (metastasis).
Treatment Options
- Surgery: tumor removal, debulking surgery, palliative surgery.
- Chemotherapy: systemic chemotherapy, localized chemotherapy, biologic agents, hormonal agents, and palliative chemotherapy.
- Radiation Therapy: radiation therapy, stereotactic radiation therapy, brachytherapy, and palliative radiation therapy.
Oncology Care
- Interdisciplinary oncology team includes physicians, surgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists, PAs, NPs, nurse educators, chemotherapy nurses, pharmacists, social workers, counselors/psychologists, and financial support experts.
- Oncology care includes neoadjuvant treatment, adjuvant treatment, and survivorship care.
This quiz introduces the concept of cancer, including its definition, characteristics, and causes. Learn about abnormal cell growth, neoplasm, and how cell growth becomes dysregulated.
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