Oncology Study Notes: Breast and Lung Cancer

Definition: A cancer that forms in the breast tissue, primarily affecting women but can occur in men.
Risk Factors:
- Age (risk increases with age)
- Genetic mutations (e.g., BRCA1 and BRCA2)
- Family history
- Lifestyle factors (e.g., obesity, alcohol consumption)
Symptoms:
- Lump in the breast or underarm
- Changes in breast shape or size
- Nipple discharge or inversion
- Skin changes (dimpling, redness)
Diagnosis:
- Mammography
- Ultrasound
- Biopsy (fine needle aspiration, core needle biopsy)
Treatment Options:
- Surgery (lumpectomy, mastectomy)
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy (e.g., HER2 inhibitors)

Definition: A type of cancer that starts in the lungs; two main types are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Risk Factors:
- Smoking (primary risk factor)
- Secondhand smoke exposure
- Environmental factors (asbestos, radon)
- Family history
Symptoms:
- Persistent cough
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood
Diagnosis:
- Chest X-ray
- CT scan
- Biopsy (sputum cytology, needle biopsy)
Treatment Options:
- Surgery (lobectomy, pneumonectomy)
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy (e.g., EGFR inhibitors, ALK inhibitors)
- Immunotherapy (e.g., PD-1 inhibitors)

Definition: A treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
Mechanisms:
- Checkpoint inhibitors (block proteins that prevent immune response)
- CAR T-cell therapy (engineered T-cells to target cancer)
- Monoclonal antibodies (target specific cancer cells)
Uses:
- Effective in various cancers (e.g., melanoma, lung cancer, bladder cancer)
Side Effects:
- Fatigue
- Skin rashes
- Autoimmune reactions

Definition: A treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill or damage cancer cells.
Types:
- External beam radiation (targeting the tumor from outside the body)
- Internal radiation (brachytherapy, radioactive sources placed inside the body)
Uses:
- Curative treatment for localized cancers
- Palliative treatment to relieve symptoms
Side Effects:
- Skin irritation
- Fatigue
- Organ damage (depending on the area treated)

Definition: A systemic treatment using drugs to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells.
Mechanism: Targets all rapidly dividing cells, affecting both cancerous and healthy cells.
Administration:
- Intravenous (IV) infusion
- Oral medications
Uses:
- Adjuvant therapy (after surgery)
- Neoadjuvant therapy (before surgery)
- Treatment for advanced cancer
Side Effects:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hair loss
- Increased risk of infections (due to low white blood cell count)
- Fatigue

A malignant tumor originating in the breast tissue; predominantly affects women, but men are also at risk.
Major risk factors include advancing age, BRCA1/BRCA2 genetic mutations, family history, and lifestyle choices like obesity and alcohol use.
Symptoms may present as a lump in the breast or armpit, alterations in shape or size, unusual nipple discharge or inversion, and skin changes such as dimpling or redness.
Diagnosis typically involves mammography, followed by ultrasound and biopsy methods, including fine needle aspiration and core needle biopsy.
Treatment modalities include surgical options like lumpectomy or mastectomy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies like HER2 inhibitors.

Characterized by malignant cells in the lungs; classified mainly into non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Significant risk factors include smoking (primary cause), exposure to secondhand smoke, environmental toxins such as asbestos and radon, and a family history of lung cancer.
Common symptoms consist of a persistent cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and hemoptysis (coughing up blood).
Diagnosis is performed through chest X-rays, CT scans, and biopsy techniques such as sputum cytology and needle biopsy.
Treatment options encompass surgical interventions (lobectomy, pneumonectomy), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies (EGFR and ALK inhibitors), and immunotherapy (e.g., PD-1 inhibitors).

A treatment utilizing the body’s immune system to combat cancer cells.
Mechanisms include checkpoint inhibitors (which block immune response-inhibiting proteins), CAR T-cell therapy (engineered T-cells designed to attack cancer), and monoclonal antibodies (which direct action against specific cancer cells).
Effective across various cancers including melanoma, lung cancer, and bladder cancer.
Common side effects involve fatigue, skin rashes, and potential autoimmune reactions.

A treatment modality using high radiation doses to target and destroy cancer cells.
Types include external beam radiation (applied externally to the tumor) and internal radiation (brachytherapy, involving radioactive materials placed inside the body).
Typically used for curative purposes in localized cancers or palliative care to alleviate symptoms.
Side effects can include skin irritation, fatigue, and potential damage to surrounding organs depending on the treated area.

A systemic treatment that employs cytotoxic drugs to target and kill rapidly dividing cancer cells.
Works by affecting all rapidly dividing cells, impacting both cancerous and healthy tissues.
Administration routes include intravenous (IV) infusion and oral medications.
Utilized as adjuvant therapy post-surgery, neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgery, and in managing advanced stages of cancer.
Side effects are common and may include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, increased infection risk from low white blood cell counts, and fatigue.