CON(C) Oncology flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Oncology nurse scope of practice

Defined by state or provincial nurse practice acts and institutional policy. Chemotherapy administration authority and prescriptive authority vary by jurisdiction, certification, and employer credentialing.

Independent double-check

Two qualified clinicians separately verify regimen, dose, calculation, rate, and route before chemotherapy administration. It is a required error-reduction barrier in most oncology settings.

HPV vaccination recommendation

Routine vaccination at ages 11-12, catch-up through age 26, and shared clinical decision-making for ages 27-45. It prevents cancers caused by high-risk HPV types.

Lung cancer screening criteria

Low-dose CT is recommended for adults aged 50-80 with a 20 pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years.

Oncogene versus tumor suppressor

Oncogenes are gain-of-function drivers such as RAS or MYC. Tumor suppressors are loss-of-function drivers such as TP53 or BRCA1/2 that normally restrain proliferation or repair DNA.

Metastatic cascade

Sequential steps: local invasion, intravasation into vessels, survival in circulation, extravasation, and colonization of distant tissue. Each step is a potential therapeutic target.

TNM staging components

T describes primary tumor size or invasion, N describes regional lymph node involvement, and M describes distant metastasis. Clinical and pathologic stages may differ.

Neoadjuvant therapy

Systemic or radiation treatment given before definitive surgery. Goals include tumor downstaging, improved resectability, and early assessment of treatment sensitivity.

Febrile neutropenia emergency

Fever of 38.3°C once or 38.0°C sustained over one hour with absolute neutrophil count below 500/µL. Requires immediate cultures and empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea prophylaxis

Combination antiemetics based on emetogenic risk: a 5-HT3 antagonist plus dexamethasone, adding an NK1 antagonist for highly emetogenic regimens. Scheduled prophylaxis outperforms rescue alone.

Tumor lysis syndrome

Metabolic emergency with hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia, and hypocalcemia from rapid tumor cell death. Prevention uses hydration plus allopurinol or rasburicase in high-risk disease.

Spinal cord compression signs

Back pain, progressive motor weakness, sensory level, and bowel or bladder dysfunction. High-dose corticosteroids and urgent MRI are required to prevent irreversible neurologic deficit.

Immune-related adverse events

Checkpoint inhibitor toxicities such as colitis, pneumonitis, hepatitis, and endocrinopathy. Early corticosteroid initiation and specialist consultation prevent severe or fatal outcomes.

Distress screening threshold

A distress thermometer score of 4 or higher on a 0-10 scale triggers further assessment and referral. Screening is recommended at diagnosis and at intervals.

FICA spiritual assessment

A brief tool exploring Faith and belief, Importance, Community, and Address in care. It guides spiritual support and referral to chaplaincy services.

Palliative care definition

Interdisciplinary care focused on symptom relief and quality of life, appropriate at any disease stage alongside curative or disease-directed therapy. It is not limited to end-of-life care.

Survivorship care plan

A document summarizing cancer treatment received, surveillance schedule, potential late effects, and health promotion recommendations. It is shared with the patient and primary care team.

Advance directive versus POLST

Advance directives express future preferences and name a surrogate. POLST or MOLST is a portable medical order actionable across settings for seriously ill patients.

Informed consent elements

Capacity, voluntariness, disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives, and comprehension. The treating clinician obtains consent; the nurse verifies understanding and documents.

Just culture

A framework distinguishing human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless behavior. It supports reporting and system improvement while reserving punitive response for reckless conduct.

Teach-back method

The clinician asks the patient to explain the information in their own words. It confirms comprehension more reliably than asking whether the patient understands.

Shared decision-making

Integrating best available evidence, clinician expertise, and patient values and preferences. Decision aids improve knowledge and reduce decisional conflict.

Oncology certification credentials

The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation offers OCN for eligible nurses and AOCNP for advanced practice nurses. Certification requires examination and periodic renewal.

Colorectal cancer screening start

Screening begins at age 45 for average-risk adults, using colonoscopy, stool-based testing, or other guideline-endorsed strategies. Earlier screening applies to high-risk individuals.

Hallmarks of cancer

Biological capabilities including sustained proliferation, evasion of growth suppressors, apoptosis resistance, replicative immortality, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, and immune evasion.

RECIST response criteria

Standard criteria using measurable target lesions to classify complete response, partial response, stable disease, or progressive disease. Response requires confirmatory imaging at defined intervals.

Extravasation management

Stop the infusion, aspirate residual drug, apply compress per antidote protocol, and document. Dexrazoxane is the antidote for anthracycline extravasation.

Superior vena cava syndrome

Facial and upper extremity edema, distended neck veins, and dyspnea from obstruction of the superior vena cava. Urgent imaging and consideration of radiation or stenting are required.

Health literacy assessment

Evaluating a patient's ability to obtain and process health information to make decisions. Low health literacy is common and guides plain-language teaching and teach-back.

Hospice eligibility

In the United States, generally a prognosis of six months or less if the disease follows its expected course, with recertification at benefit periods.

HIPAA minimum necessary rule

Only the minimum protected health information needed for a purpose should be accessed or disclosed. Role-based access controls enforce this in the electronic record.

Motivational interviewing

A collaborative conversation style using open questions, affirmation, reflection, and summarization to strengthen a patient's own motivation and confidence for behavior change.