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Cancer Keywords for Nursing Reviewee

Memorize the highlighted "keywords" because those words sometimes comes out in the nursing licensure examination.



Read and remember well all the Online Nursing Classes"Keywords for Cancer".


CANCER

- Altered cellular mechanism with progressive and uncontrolled multiplication of cells with selective ability to invade and metastasize and cause mechanical effects of pressure, obstruction, and interruption of blood supply.

Online Nursing Classes does not include all types of cancer in this page but rather chooses those that usually came out in the nursing licensure exam. Read them and memorize the keywords.

Different Types of Cancer

Lung Cancer- squamous cell carcinoma (most common); dyspnea; wheezing; dry to productive cough; hemoptysis; hoarseness; chest pain; history of cigarette smoking and recurrent infection.

Colon/Rectal Cancer- Change in bowel habits; diarrhea or constipation; rectal bleeding; abdominal cramps and vague discomfort; signs of intestinal obstruction; palpable mass; history of low fiber diet.

Breast Cancer- Firm, nontender painless lump or mass; nipple retraction or discharge; palpable mass + mammography; in women >50 with (+) history and early menarche and late menopause.

Uterine Cancer- Post-menopausal uterine bleeding; intermenstrual bleeding; common among obese; nulliparous; prolonged estrogen therapy; post-menopause (+) papsmear.

Prostate Cancer- Difficulty in starting urine, smaller and less forceful urine flow; urgency; hesitancy; dribbling and retention (increase residual urine volume), frequency common in age 50 with (+) history.

Bladder Cancer- Initially painless hematuria; flank or pelvic pain; dysuria; frequency and urgency common in men, cigarette smokers and excessive coffee drinkers.

Laryngeal Cancer- Persistent hoarseness; cough and hemoptysis; enlarged cervical lymph nodes; dysphagia and dyspnea; common among voice abusers; smokers and alcoholics.



CHEMOTHERAPY

- Use of antineoplastic agents with a primary action of interfering with the supply and utilization of building blocks of nucleic acids, as well as interfering with intact molecules of DNA and RNA, both needed for cellular metabolism, replication and growth. Online nursing classes discover that the problem in this method is that they lack specificity, resulting to attacks even with the normal cells (specially those normal cells that are rapidly proliferating, like cancer cells).


Side Effects and Nursing Management for Chemotherapy

1. Nausea and vomiting – small frequent, high calorie, high potassium, high protein diet; foods should be easy to swallow; frequent mouth care; pleasant environment; or NGT, IV, hyperalimentation.

2. Stomatitis – soft toothbrushes, frequent mouth care; oral salt mouth gargle, avoid commercial mouthwash that contain high alcohol; avoid hot drinks or food; bland foods is best.

3. Alopecia – advise short hair before treatment; gentle combing, use wig or scarf when necessary; online nursing classes advises you to tell the client that hair will re-grow (but with altered texture, and possibly color).

4. Diarrhea – low residue diet; increase fluids; avoid hot or cold drinks and food

5. Infections – avoid uncontrolled crowds and sources of infection; balanced diet; skin care.

1. External Radiation (cobalt or linear acceleration)
- series of daily radiation exposures as patient is left alone in a room. Online nursing classes recommend that:
- Marks must not be removed during entire treatment course
- Keep skin dry, cornstarch is the only topical application allowed
- Talcum and lotions are contraindicated
- Avoid: strong sunlight; extremes of temperature; tight constricting clothing; strong alcohol mouthwash; fatigue; crowded places

2. Internal Radiation

a. Sealed Internal Radiation (radium, indium, celsium)
- sealed radiation source is placed in a cavity or adjacent to cancer

b. Unsealed Internal Radiation (radio-isotope/radionuclide)
- source of radiation is given orally, intravenously or instilled in cavity



Principles of Internal Radiation Therapy

1. Time – the shortest possible (not more than 30 minutes per shift)

2. Distance – as far as possible (can spend more time at distance of 20 feet)

3. Shielding – protection lead apron


Nursing Considerations for Internal Radiation Therapy

- douche, enema, perineal prep, with foley catheter before insertion of cervical radium
- flat position
- Never handle radium directly, use long handles forceps
- keep linen in room until source of radiation are completely accounted for
- no exposure to pregnant and children
- Isolate patient (private room)
- radiation excreted in urine, saliva, perspiration, vomitus, and feces for 8 days in radioactive iodine, and 14 days in radioactive phosphorus
- careful handling of gowns, feces, dressing, utensils, and linens
- always use gloves, gowns
- wear detection badge to determine exposure


Characteristics of Benign Neoplasm

1. grows slowly
2. grows by enlarging and expanding
3. almost always contained within a fibrous
4. usually well differentiated
5. recurrence extremely unusual when surgically removed
6. metastasis never occur
7. not harmful to host unless located in area where it causes compression of tissues or obstruction of vital organs
8. very good prognosis; tumor generally removed surgically


Characteristics of Malignant Neoplasm

1. usually grows rapidly
2. grows by infiltrating surrounding tissues
3. never contained within a capsule
4. usually poorly differentiated
5. recurrence common following surgery because tumor cells spread into surrounding tissues
6. metastasis very common
7. always harmful to host; result in death unless removed surgically or destroyed by or chemotherapy
8. prognosis depends on cell type and speed of diagnosis


Breast Self – Examination (BSE)- best performed one week after onset of mense. For non-menstruating women, during the first day of every month.

Inspection- Examine the breasts in front of a mirror, looking for noticeable differences in contour, nipple placement, or dimpling
- Re-examine with hands on hips, arms raised over the head, and leaning forward

Palpation in Bath or Shower- using the hand opposite the breast, palpate the entire breast with the flat pads of the first three fingers, using circular motion.
- repeat with the other breasts

Palpation Lying Down

- raise one arm and tuck it behind
- using the same technique as in bath or shower, palpate the breast with the fingers of the opposite hand
- repeat with the other breast

Online Nursing Classes also recommend that you study the Different Warning Signs of Cancer

Related Post:

All About Cancer

Lung Cancer

Mesothelioma Cancer


To read more about other nursing information, go back to homepage: Online Nursing Classes.

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