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The primary goal of cancer treatment is exclusively to achieve a complete cure, regardless of the patient's overall health.
Answer: False
Explanation: The primary goal of cancer treatment can be either a complete cure or to significantly prolong the patient's life, with the choice influenced by factors such as tumor characteristics and the patient's general health.
Hormone therapy and radiation therapy were both developed in the late 19th century, marking significant early advancements in cancer treatment.
Answer: True
Explanation: The source indicates that both hormone therapy and radiation therapy were developed in the late 19th century, representing early milestones in cancer treatment.
According to the Halstedian model, even small localized tumors are increasingly recognized as having the potential to metastasize, making complete surgical excision impossible.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Halstedian model suggested a local-to-lymph-node-to-body spread. While small localized tumors are recognized as having metastatic potential, the Halstedian model itself is not the source of this increasing recognition or the impossibility of excision; rather, it's a historical model contrasted with current understanding.
A pathologist's examination of a surgical specimen is primarily to confirm the type of cancer, not to ensure a margin of healthy tissue.
Answer: False
Explanation: A pathologist's examination of a surgical specimen is crucial for ensuring a margin of healthy tissue around the removed tumor, which helps prevent recurrence, in addition to confirming the cancer type.
Neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer has shown less clear survival advantages compared to its use in lung cancer.
Answer: False
Explanation: The source states that the survival advantages of neoadjuvant treatment in lung cancer are less clear, whereas for breast cancer, the survival rate for patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy is comparable to those treated after surgery.
Radiation therapy primarily works by directly damaging the cell membrane of cancer cells, leading to their death.
Answer: False
Explanation: Radiation therapy primarily works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells, either directly or indirectly through free radicals, rather than directly damaging the cell membrane.
The primary goal of radiation therapy is to maximize damage to cancer cells while minimizing harm to nearby healthy tissue, often achieved by delivering radiation in multiple fractions.
Answer: True
Explanation: The primary goal of radiation therapy is indeed to maximize damage to cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy tissue, a balance often achieved by delivering radiation in multiple fractions to allow healthy cells to recover.
Chemotherapy drugs are exclusively administered via intravenous injections, never orally.
Answer: False
Explanation: Chemotherapy drugs can be administered in various ways, including injections into muscles, skin, arteries, or veins, and can also be taken orally in pill form.
Most forms of chemotherapy are cytotoxic, meaning they specifically target only cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed.
Answer: False
Explanation: Most forms of chemotherapy are cytotoxic, meaning they target all rapidly dividing cells, including healthy ones, which is why they cause side effects.
High-dose chemotherapy for leukemias and lymphomas often requires autologous stem cell transplantation to rescue the patient's blood-forming system after bone marrow ablation.
Answer: True
Explanation: High-dose chemotherapy for certain leukemias and lymphomas ablates bone marrow, necessitating autologous stem cell transplantation to restore the patient's blood-forming system.
For Stage 4 colon cancer, surgery is the primary treatment strategy aimed at completely removing all widespread cancer.
Answer: False
Explanation: For Stage 4 colon cancer, surgery is usually for prevention or pain relief, but the main treatment strategy is aggressive chemotherapy due to the widespread nature of the cancer.
What is the primary goal of cancer treatment, beyond just achieving a complete cure?
Answer: To significantly prolong the life of the individual.
Explanation: The primary goal of cancer treatment can be either a complete cure or to significantly prolong the patient's life, with the choice influenced by factors such as tumor characteristics and the patient's general health.
Which of the following cancer treatments was developed in the late 19th century?
Answer: Radiation therapy
Explanation: The source indicates that both hormone therapy and radiation therapy were developed in the late 19th century, representing early milestones in cancer treatment.
What is the main reason complete surgical excision is usually impossible if cancer has already spread?
Answer: The process of metastasis means cancer is in multiple sites.
Explanation: If cancer has already spread through metastasis, it means it is present in multiple sites, making complete surgical excision typically impossible.
What is the pathologist's role in ensuring a successful surgical outcome for cancer?
Answer: To ensure a margin of healthy tissue is present around the removed tumor.
Explanation: A pathologist's examination of a surgical specimen is crucial for ensuring a margin of healthy tissue around the removed tumor, which helps prevent recurrence.
In which cancer type is neoadjuvant therapy's survival advantage less clear, according to the source?
Answer: Lung cancer
Explanation: The source states that the survival advantages of neoadjuvant treatment in lung cancer are less clear, whereas for breast cancer, the survival rate for patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy is comparable to those treated after surgery.
How does radiation therapy primarily achieve its effect on cancer cells?
Answer: By damaging their DNA.
Explanation: Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells, either directly or indirectly through the creation of free radicals, leading to cellular death.
What is a common side effect of radiation therapy mentioned, specifically related to salivary glands?
Answer: Dry mouth
Explanation: A specific side effect of radiation therapy mentioned is dry mouth, which can result from the exposure of salivary glands to radiation, causing decreased saliva secretion.
Why do chemotherapy drugs often cause side effects in healthy tissues?
Answer: They are cytotoxic, targeting all rapidly dividing cells.
Explanation: Most forms of chemotherapy are cytotoxic, meaning they target all rapidly dividing cells, including healthy ones, which is why they cause side effects, especially in tissues with high cell replacement rates.
For Stage 4 colon cancer, what is the main treatment strategy due to its widespread nature?
Answer: Aggressive chemotherapy
Explanation: For Stage 4 colon cancer, the main treatment strategy is aggressive chemotherapy due to the cancer's widespread nature, with surgery typically reserved for prevention or pain relief.
What is a common side effect experienced by patients undergoing hormonal therapy?
Answer: Hot flashes
Explanation: Patients undergoing hormonal therapy may experience side effects such as hot flashes, nausea, and fatigue, which vary depending on the specific type of hormone treatment.
Targeted therapy became available in the early 1980s and broadly affects rapidly dividing cells, similar to traditional chemotherapy.
Answer: False
Explanation: Targeted therapy became available in the late 1990s and differs from traditional chemotherapy by specifically interacting with deregulated proteins in cancer cells, rather than broadly affecting all rapidly dividing cells.
Imatinib (Gleevec/Glivec) and gefitinib (Iressa) are examples of monoclonal antibody therapies used in cancer treatment.
Answer: False
Explanation: Imatinib and gefitinib are small molecule drugs that act as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, a type of targeted therapy, but they are not monoclonal antibody therapies.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) requires a photosensitizer, tissue oxygen, and light to treat cancers like basal cell carcinoma.
Answer: True
Explanation: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a three-component cancer treatment that indeed involves a photosensitizer, tissue oxygen, and light, and is used for cancers such as basal cell carcinoma.
A systematic review found that targeted therapies significantly improve overall survival by 35% to 40% in patients with metastatic or relapsed cancer.
Answer: False
Explanation: A systematic review found that targeted therapies significantly improve *progression-free survival* by 35% to 40%, but there is limited evidence regarding their long-term effects on *overall survival*.
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is considered a form of immunotherapy because the donor's immune cells can attack the tumor, known as the graft-versus-tumor effect.
Answer: True
Explanation: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is indeed considered immunotherapy due to the graft-versus-tumor effect, where donor immune cells target and attack the tumor.
The 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for the development of new chemotherapy drugs, not for immune checkpoint therapy.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Dr. James Allison and Dr. Tasuku Honjo for their significant contributions to immune checkpoint therapy, not for chemotherapy drugs.
Angiogenesis inhibitors promote the growth of new blood vessels to help deliver chemotherapy drugs more effectively to tumors.
Answer: False
Explanation: Angiogenesis inhibitors work by *preventing* the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to survive and grow, thereby inhibiting their invasion and metastasis.
When did targeted therapy become a treatment option for cancer?
Answer: Late 1990s
Explanation: Targeted therapy first became available in the late 1990s, marking a significant advancement in cancer treatment.
Which of the following is a small molecule drug that acts as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor?
Answer: Imatinib (Gleevec/Glivec)
Explanation: Imatinib (Gleevec/Glivec) is a prominent example of a small molecule drug that functions as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor in targeted therapy.
What is the primary action of monoclonal antibody therapy?
Answer: To bind specifically to proteins on the surface of cancer cells.
Explanation: Monoclonal antibody therapy is a targeted treatment strategy where the therapeutic agent is an antibody specifically designed to bind to a protein located on the surface of cancer cells.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves a photosensitizer, tissue oxygen, and what other component?
Answer: Light (often from lasers)
Explanation: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a three-component cancer treatment that involves a photosensitizer, tissue oxygen, and light, often from lasers.
A systematic review found that targeted therapies significantly improve which specific survival outcome in metastatic or relapsed cancer patients?
Answer: Progression-free survival
Explanation: A systematic review published in the Cochrane database found that targeted therapies significantly improve progression-free survival by 35% to 40% in patients with metastatic or relapsed cancer.
Which form of immunotherapy involves donor immune cells attacking the tumor, known as the graft-versus-tumor effect?
Answer: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Explanation: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is considered a form of immunotherapy because the donor's immune cells can attack the tumor, a phenomenon known as the graft-versus-tumor effect.
Dr. James Allison and Dr. Tasuku Honjo received the 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their work on which type of therapy?
Answer: Immune checkpoint therapy
Explanation: The 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Dr. James Allison and Dr. Tasuku Honjo for their significant contributions to the advancement of PD-1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoint therapy.
What is the primary mechanism by which angiogenesis inhibitors combat cancer?
Answer: By blocking the formation of new blood vessels for tumors.
Explanation: Angiogenesis inhibitors are drugs that prevent the extensive growth of new blood vessels, which tumors require to survive and grow, thereby preventing invasion and metastasis.
Which of the following is an example of a contemporary immunotherapy approach for superficial bladder cancer?
Answer: Intravesical BCG immunotherapy
Explanation: Intravesical BCG immunotherapy is a contemporary immunotherapy approach used for superficial bladder cancer.
How do cancer cells exploit immune checkpoint proteins like CTLA-4 and PD-1?
Answer: By putting a 'brake' on the anti-cancer immune response to evade surveillance.
Explanation: Cancer cells can exploit immune checkpoint proteins like CTLA-4 and PD-1 to 'put a brake' on the anti-cancer immune response, allowing them to evade immune surveillance.
In the context of synthetic lethality, a deficiency in a single DNA repair gene is sufficient to cause cell death in cancer cells.
Answer: False
Explanation: Synthetic lethality requires a combination of deficiencies in *two or more* genes to cause cell death; a deficiency in only one gene is not sufficient.
Clinical trials are the initial stage of cancer research where new treatments are first tested in human patients.
Answer: False
Explanation: Clinical trials are the *final stages* of cancer research, occurring after laboratory and animal testing, where new treatments are tested in human patients.
Patients participating in cancer clinical trials are guaranteed to receive a new experimental treatment that will yield better results than standard care.
Answer: False
Explanation: There is no guarantee that new experimental treatments in clinical trials will yield better results than standard care, and new treatments also carry unknown risks.
Exosomes are being researched for their potential to detect and monitor various cancers with high sensitivity and specificity.
Answer: True
Explanation: Current research is indeed exploring exosomes as a method for detecting and monitoring various cancers due to their potential for high sensitivity and specificity.
Lectin affinity plasmapheresis (LAP) is a blood filtration method that aims to promote tumor growth by increasing the concentration of exosomes in the bloodstream.
Answer: False
Explanation: Lectin affinity plasmapheresis (LAP) is a blood filtration method that aims to *remove* tumor-based exosomes from the bloodstream, with the belief that this could slow cancer progression.
In synthetic lethality, cell death occurs when there are deficiencies in how many genes?
Answer: Two or more genes.
Explanation: Synthetic lethality is a concept where a combination of deficiencies in the expression of two or more genes leads to cell death, whereas a deficiency in only one of these genes does not.
Which PARP inhibitor was approved in 2016 for advanced ovarian cancer with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations?
Answer: Rucaparib
Explanation: Rucaparib, a PARP inhibitor, was approved in 2016 for advanced ovarian cancer with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations.
What is the first stage of cancer research before a treatment reaches animal testing?
Answer: Laboratory testing
Explanation: Before a treatment reaches clinical trials, the research process begins in the laboratory, where scientists develop and test new ideas.
What are exosomes being researched for in cancer?
Answer: Their use as a method for detecting and monitoring various cancers.
Explanation: Current research is exploring the use of exosomes as a method for detecting and monitoring various cancers with high sensitivity and specificity.
Exercise prescription is considered a mainstream adjunct treatment for cancer, associated with reduced recurrence rates and improved mortality outcomes.
Answer: True
Explanation: Exercise prescription is increasingly recognized as a mainstream adjunct cancer treatment, linked to reduced recurrence rates and improved mortality outcomes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a 'pain ladder' as a guideline for practitioners in managing cancer pain, promoting preemptive pain treatment.
Answer: True
Explanation: The World Health Organization (WHO) has indeed established a 'pain ladder' to guide practitioners in managing cancer pain, supporting preemptive pain treatment.
Insomnia is a rare disorder among cancer survivors, affecting less than 10% of them.
Answer: False
Explanation: Insomnia is a common disorder among cancer survivors, affecting almost 60% of them, not less than 10%.
Cancer-related fatigue is primarily caused by a patient's lack of physical activity and can be easily resolved with increased rest.
Answer: False
Explanation: Cancer-related fatigue is an unrelenting tiredness not directly attributable to activity levels, and while its exact causes are unknown, it is not simply resolved with increased rest.
Hospice care is typically chosen when a patient decides to pursue aggressive treatment options to cure their cancer.
Answer: False
Explanation: Hospice care is typically chosen when a patient decides to forgo aggressive treatment and its side effects, focusing instead on comprehensive palliative support for a terminal illness.
Resilience in cancer treatment refers solely to a patient's physical capacity to endure harsh medical procedures.
Answer: False
Explanation: Resilience in cancer treatment encompasses both a patient's physiological and psychological capacity to adapt, recover, and maintain optimal functioning when facing medical challenges, not solely physical endurance.
Exercise prescription as an adjunct cancer treatment is associated with which of the following?
Answer: Improved mortality outcomes.
Explanation: Studies indicate that exercise is associated with reduced recurrence rates and improved mortality outcomes as a mainstream adjunct treatment for cancer.
What is the purpose of the World Health Organization's 'pain ladder' in cancer care?
Answer: To guide practitioners in managing cancer pain.
Explanation: The World Health Organization (WHO) established a 'pain ladder' as a guideline for practitioners in managing cancer pain, promoting preemptive pain treatment.
Which of these is a common mental and emotional challenge faced by cancer patients?
Answer: Depression
Explanation: Cancer patients frequently experience significant mental and emotional strain, including stress, uncertainty, and depression.
What percentage of cancer survivors are affected by insomnia?
Answer: Almost 60%
Explanation: Insomnia is a common disorder among cancer survivors, affecting almost 60% of them.
Which type of exercise is mentioned as beneficial for improving emotional well-being and quality of life for breast cancer survivors?
Answer: Yoga, water exercise, and pilates
Explanation: Studies have shown that activities like yoga, water exercise, and pilates can improve the emotional well-being and overall quality of life for breast cancer survivors.
Cancer-related fatigue is described as an unrelenting feeling of tiredness that is NOT directly attributable to what?
Answer: Activity levels
Explanation: Cancer-related fatigue is an unrelenting feeling of physical and mental tiredness that is not directly attributable to activity levels, distinguishing it from ordinary fatigue.
What is the primary focus of hospice care?
Answer: Comprehensive support for medical, emotional, and spiritual needs for terminal illness.
Explanation: Hospice care provides comprehensive support for a person's medical, emotional, social, practical, psychological, and spiritual needs for individuals with an advanced illness deemed terminal.
What is a key aspect of resilience in cancer treatment?
Answer: The capacity to adapt, recover, and maintain optimal functioning when facing medical challenges.
Explanation: Resilience in cancer treatment refers to a patient's physiological and psychological capacity to effectively adapt, recover, and maintain optimal functioning when facing medical challenges.
What does the image caption about walking exercise suggest for cancer patients?
Answer: It is typically an excellent exercise option as an adjunct treatment.
Explanation: The image caption suggests that walking is typically an excellent exercise option to be used as an adjunct treatment for cancer patients.
'Alternative medicine' refers to methods and substances used alongside conventional medicine, while 'complementary medicine' is used instead of conventional medicine.
Answer: False
Explanation: The definitions are reversed: 'complementary medicine' is used alongside conventional medicine, while 'alternative medicine' is used instead of conventional medicine.
The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is uncommon among cancer patients, with less than 10% reporting its use.
Answer: False
Explanation: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common among cancer patients, with a study showing 69% had utilized at least one CAM therapy.
Diagnosing cancer during pregnancy is complicated because MRI scans are infeasible due to high radiation, and contrast media cannot be administered.
Answer: False
Explanation: While CT scans are infeasible due to high radiation and contrast media cannot be administered, MRI scans *can* be used normally during pregnancy for cancer diagnosis.
Teratoma is the most common type of fetal tumor and is typically malignant, requiring immediate surgical intervention after birth.
Answer: False
Explanation: Teratoma is the most common type of fetal tumor and is usually benign, though in certain instances, it can be surgically treated in utero.
In the U.S., racial and social disparities in cancer treatment contribute significantly to higher death rates among minority populations.
Answer: True
Explanation: U.S. cancer statistics and studies highlight that racial and social disparities in treatment significantly contribute to higher death rates among minority populations, who are more likely to receive inadequate care.
African American women in the Appalachian Mountains were found to be less likely to die from breast cancer compared to white women, indicating a survival advantage.
Answer: False
Explanation: An article found that African American women in the Appalachian Mountains were *two times more likely* to die from breast cancer than white women, indicating a survival disadvantage, not an advantage.
Lung cancer patients often experience stigma and blame due to smoking, which can lead to feelings of guilt and social isolation.
Answer: True
Explanation: Lung cancer patients commonly experience stigma, shame, and social isolation, often being blamed for their illness due to smoking, leading to feelings of guilt.
What is the definition of 'complementary medicine' in cancer treatment?
Answer: Methods and substances used *along with* conventional medicine.
Explanation: 'Complementary medicine' specifically refers to methods and substances used *along with* conventional medicine, whereas 'alternative medicine' denotes compounds or practices used *instead of* conventional medicine.
What is a key reason for the rising incidence of pregnancy-associated cancer?
Answer: Increasing age of pregnant mothers.
Explanation: The incidence of pregnancy-associated cancer has risen due to the increasing age of pregnant mothers.
Which diagnostic limitation exists for cancer during pregnancy regarding contrast media?
Answer: Contrast media cannot be administered as they cross the placenta.
Explanation: Diagnosing cancer during pregnancy is made more difficult because contrast media cannot be administered as they cross the placenta.
What type of fetal tumor is most common and usually benign?
Answer: Teratoma
Explanation: Teratoma is the most common type of fetal tumor and is usually benign.
What significant issue did the U.S. cancer statistics for 2018 highlight?
Answer: Racial and social disparities in treatments contributing to high death rates.
Explanation: The U.S. cancer statistics for 2018 highlighted that racial and social disparities in treatments contribute substantially to high death rates.
According to a breast cancer journal article, how much more likely were African American women in the Appalachian Mountains to die from breast cancer than Asian women?
Answer: Three times more likely
Explanation: An article in a breast cancer journal found that African American women in the Appalachian Mountains were three times more likely to die from breast cancer than Asian women.
What is a common perception that drives stigma in cervical cancer, according to the source?
Answer: It is seen as a consequence of reckless behavior or neglecting screening.
Explanation: Stigma in cervical cancer is primarily driven by the perception that it is a consequence of reckless behavior or neglecting screening.