Cancer/Chemo Henderson

Cancer FACTS One in three people will face cancer in their lifetime People in this room are dealing with cancer right now (parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle…) 25% of cancer survivors in the United States have school aged children Cancer is a general name for 100+ diseases Cancer often moves to other parts of the body where they grow and form new tumors. The process of spreading cancer is METASTASIS. Many cancers form solid tumors/masses of tissues. However, some like leukemia, generally do not.

What is cancer? Abnormal cell growth. Proliferating= reproducing rapidly. The abnormal growth occurs because the cell undergoes a mutation. When cancer occurs, the mutated cells grow out of control into other tissues.

How do we treat cancer? Surgery Radiation Chemotherapy Both radiation and Chemotherapy are Cytotoxic= destructive to cells.

MORE cancer facts Chemotherapy: Medicine used to treat cancer. Average cost for a 3-4 MONTH treatment is $20,000-$26,000. Medicines specifically sold in pharmacies for 1 year of treatments averages $100,000. Treatments can be DAILY, WEEKLY, OR MONTHLY.

Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is designed to only kill off rapidly producing cells. This makes Chemotherapy effective in treating cancer although it also affects other human body cells that produce rapidly.

Human cells that produce rapidly Hair and Skin Alopecia, rashes, sensitive skin Bone Marrow= RBC, WBC, Platelets Anemia (drowsiness), immunodeficiency, hemorrhage/bleeding/bruising. GI= mucous membranes (stomach lining, intestines, mouth, anus) Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, sore mouth

Understanding Antimetabolites The term metabolism refers to the many chemical reactions that take place in our bodies. Metabolite is a general term for the organic compounds that are synthesized, recycled, or broken down in cells. Examples include vitamins and amino acids. Metabolites that are the end products of a process or pathway may be excreted by the body. An example is urea, the end product of protein metabolism, excreted by the body as a component of urine.

Antimetabolites Rapidly proliferating neoplasms. With specific cancer medications, extra precaution needs to take place such as wearing GLOVES. Pay close attention to the outside of the stock bottle (it will tell you what precautions you should take) when handling cancer/chemo drugs. Brand Generic Efudex/Adrucil Fluorouracil 6-MP Mercaptopurine Mexate Methotrexate Xeloda Cepacitabine

Alkylating Agents Directly damage DNA to keep the cell from reproducing. Because they damage DNA, they have long term damage on bone marrow. Used mainly to treat leukemia, testicular/ovarian cancers, and bladder cancer. AS A TECHNICIAN, IF YOU ACCIDENTALY HAVE SKIN CONTACT, IMMEDIATELY WASH HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER AND SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.

Alkylating Agents Sometimes called “non-cell cycle specific”. Interfere with the DNA of the cell to make them a chemical weapon. They cause some additional side effects/problems such as infertility and leukemia. Brand Generic CYTOXAN CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE PARAPLATIN CARBOPLATIN

Hormone dependent cancer treatments Used to treat cancers such as breast cancer Blocks the effect of estrogen in target tissues such as the breast. Brand Generic Nolvadex Tamoxifen Depo-Provera Medroxyprogesterone Arimidex Anastrozole Casodex Bicalutamine Depo-Testosterone testosterone