Term
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Definition
- T: tumor size?
- N: lymph nodes affected?
- M: metastatic?
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Term
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Definition
| Staging system that grades cancers 0-4; the higher the stage, the more severe |
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Term
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Definition
- Different depending on the type of cancer
- Biopsy/cytology
- Chest X-ray (lung cancer)
- Labs
- Scans
- Tumor markers: CEA (measure protein in the blood, but it nonspecific, not necessarily diagnostic)
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Term
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Definition
- Dependent on staging of cancer
- Curative treatment: usually in very early stages; may go into remission (absence of any active cancers in the body)
- Control treatment: attempt to control worsening or spread
- Palliative treatment: making the patient comfortable before death
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Term
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Definition
- Surgery: remove all cancer cells possible, may also be preventative (ex. removal of breasts if genetic marker for breast cancer is found)
- Radiation: damages the DNA of cancer calles to cause cell death, we are only able to give patients so much radiation before it is no longer safe
- Chemotherapy: very strong cytotoxic chemicals, not very curative but has a good chance of remission, used to try and stop or slow progression, wreaks havoc on the rest of the body, must wear gloves to handle
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Term
| Side Effects of Chemotherapy |
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Definition
- Alopecia (kills hair cells)
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Symptoms of cell death (inflammatory response)
- Cardiotoxicity
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Term
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Definition
- Patients will be extremely exhausted, must schedule naps
- Neutropenic precautions
- Antiemesis treatment
- Assess for pulmonary edema (cells leak due to death)
- Cardiotoxic symptoms (shortness of breath, activity intolerance, decreased cardiac output, etc.)
- Reproductive effects (infertility, sterility, mutations)
- Pain management
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Term
| Biologic and Targeted Therapies |
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Definition
- Biologic therapies: alter the body's response to tumors
- Targeted therapies: decrease the growth of the cancer cells specifically, targets the cancer while not targeting the rest of the body's cells
- Both are rare due to cost
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Term
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Definition
- Risks: smoking, alcohol, lack of hygiene
- Symptoms: hoarse voice, sore throat, dysphagia
- Diagnosis: sometimes dental treatment, CAT scan, biopsy, laryngoscope
- Treatment: staging, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation
- Nursing management: enteral nutrition, swallow studies, speech therapy
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Term
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Definition
- Risks: smoking, secondhand smoke, asbestos
- Symptoms: nonspecific (malaise), cough, fatigue
- Diagnosis: chest x-ray, sputum cytology, scans
- Treatment: surgery, chemo, radiation, targeted therapy, education
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