Cancer: Pathophysiology, Risk Factors, Signs/Symptoms and more - Medical Surgical | @LevelUpRN

Summary

This video delves into the general aspects of cancer, exploring its pathophysiology through the stages of initiation, promotion, and progression. It highlights risk factors like age, genetics, and lifestyle choices, and outlines common symptoms. The gold standard for diagnosis is a biopsy, supported by imaging techniques. Treatment options include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and surgery. The video also touches on complications like malnutrition and infection, with a promise to discuss nursing care in future videos.

Takeaways

• 🧬 Cancer is a disease caused by DNA damage leading to abnormal cell growth and development.
• 🔬 The pathophysiology of cancer involves three stages: initiation, promotion, and progression.
• 🚗 In the initiation phase, DNA damage leads to excessive cell division due to increased oncogene function and decreased suppressor gene function, likened to a car with a stuck gas pedal and non-functional brakes.
• 🌱 Promotion involves exposure of mutated cells to substances that enhance their growth, such as estrogen.
• 📈 Progression is characterized by additional mutations in tumor cells, increasing their growth rate and ability to metastasize, making them resistant to therapy.
• 👵 Risk factors for cancer include older age, genetics, immunosuppression, viruses, smoking, sun exposure, and a diet high in fat and low in fiber.
• 🏥 Diagnostic tools for cancer include biopsy, MRI, CT scans, and ultrasound.
• 💊 Treatment options for cancer encompass chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
• ⚠️ Common complications of cancer and its treatment are malnutrition, infection, mucositis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and alopecia.
• 📚 Upcoming videos will delve into tumor classification and nursing care for cancer-related complications.

Q & A

What is the main characteristic of cancer as described in the video?

Cancer is characterized by DNA damage that leads to abnormal cell growth and development.

What are the three processes involved in the pathophysiology of cancer?

The three processes involved in the pathophysiology of cancer are initiation, promotion, and progression.

How does the car analogy explain the process of initiation in cancer?

In the car analogy, the gas represents oncogenes which make the car go faster, and the brake represents suppressor genes. During initiation in cancer, the gas is stuck to the floor (excessive oncogene function) and the brake doesn't work (decreased suppressor gene function), leading to uncontrolled cell division.

What is the role of promoters in the promotion stage of cancer?

Promoters enhance the growth of mutated cells. An example given is estrogen, which can promote the further development of certain types of cancer.

What happens during the progression stage of cancer?

During progression, tumor cells acquire additional mutations, their growth rate increases, and they become capable of metastasizing and resistant to therapy.

What are some risk factors for developing cancer?

Risk factors for cancer include older age, genetics, immunosuppression, viruses, smoking, sun exposure, and a high-fat, low-fiber diet.

What are common signs and symptoms of cancer?

General signs and symptoms of cancer can include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, pain, infection, and bleeding.

What is the gold standard for diagnosing cancer?

A biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing cancer.

What are some treatment options discussed for cancer in the video?

Treatment options for cancer include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, radiation, and surgery to remove the tumor (tumor excision).

What are some common complications associated with cancer and its treatment?

Common complications include malnutrition, infection, mucositis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and alopecia (hair loss).

What will be the focus of the next video in the series?

The next video will focus on tumor classification.