Orientation to Rad Thx

• What is the therapeutic ratio?


  delivering the maximum amount of radiation needed to kill the cancer while sparing normal surrounding tissue
• The patient's relationship with (who?) was found to be the most significant contributor to overall patient satisfaction.

  RT(T)
• What is the black bile theory?


  defined cancer as a systematic disease, thought surgery made it worse, cancer was thought to be fatal
• What perspective changed when they could not find the black bile theory to be true?

  cancer is localized
• How did the invention of the microscope change the perspective of cancer?


  ability to classify tumors on the basis of cellular characteristics
• define tumor


  abnormal cellular proliferation
• define cellular differentiation 


  stem cell that undergoes mitosis and divides into 2 daughter cells. The degree to which the cell resembles its cell of origin, morphology, and function
• Cancer is a disease of the genes in what cells?

  somatic
• Proto-oncogenes


  normal genes that play a part in normal growth and differentiation. Precursors of oncogenes
• Oncogenes


  regulate the development and growth of cancer tissue
• Antioncogenes


  Tumor suppressor genes. It tells the cells to stop multiplying. Inactivation of this gene allows malignant process to flourish.
• What causes mutations?

  Exposure to carcinogens (virus like HPV or HIV, chemicals like tobacco or alcohol, or radiation like sun exposure, x-rays, or tanning beds) and genetic mutations passed through generations
• What stage in the cell cycle is radiation most sensitive?

  G2 & M
• What are the stages of the cell cycle?

  G0, G1 (hours to years), S, G2, and M
• tumor growth is a result of an imbalance of

  dying cells and replication of cells
• what is necrosis


  dead tissue due to inadequate blood, oxygen, and nutrient supply
• how are tumors classified?

  anatomic site, class of origin, and biological behavior
• sarcoma


  tumors that rise from mesenchymal cells and include connective tissue such as cartilage and bone
• carcinomas


  originate from epithelium and include tissues that cover a surface or line a cavity
• adenocarcinoma


  from epithelial cells (that are glandular). they are from the tissue lining or stomach
• Etiology 


  study of cause (risk factors exposure)
• epidemiology


  study of disease incidence (frequency of cancer occurrence) Collected by cancer registry. Monitors cancer trends over time.
• sensitive vs specific

  sensitive: true +, specific: true -
• what types of tests are used for diagnostic imaging?

  ultrasound, CT, MRI, PET
• When compared with surgery, benefits of radiation therapy include

  (vary based on tumor, but generally) better cosmetic results, noninvasive, and can preserve function
• what method of treatment can provide instantaneous cure?

  surgery via total resection
• workup definition


  series of diagnostic exams (performed after a patient has been diagnosed with a disease or condition)
• when may a workup be done?

  at time of initial physician or nurse visit

  may include physical assessment, but these are only part of entire workup
• Which phase of the mammalian cell cycle does DNA synthesis occur?

  S-synthesis
• benign tumors


  -well differentiated

  -do not metastasize

  -encapsulated
• Which method cannot evaluate tumor architecture?

  fine needle aspiration (removes cells from a tumor but cannot retain the architecture of the tumor)
• sarcomas


  tumors arising from mesenchymal cells
• carcinomas


  tumors that arise from epithelium
• which treatment is localized?

  radiation therapy and surgery
• which treatment is systemic?

  chemotherapy
• undifferentiated tumors AKA

  an aplastic tumors
• undifferentiated tumors definition

  do not resemble the normal cells of origin
• which staff member is responsible for designing the patient’s treatment plan?

  medical dosimetrist
• who oversees the patient’s treatment plan?

  rad oncologist and medical physicist
• in some departments radiation therapists participate in treatment planning process T/F

  true