The study of individual genes and how they are passed from parents to offspring. - Answers
Genetics
The study of genomes and how they interact with each other and the environment. - Answers
Genomics
A person's specific genetic makeup, inherited from their parents. - Answers Genotype
The physical or observable characteristics of a person's genotype. - Answers Phenotype
A heritable change in a DNA sequence that may cause disease. - Answers Mutation
The study of how a person's genotype affects their response to medications. - Answers
Pharmacogenetics
A diagrammatic representation of family history used in genetic assessments. - Answers
Pedigree
The study of changes in gene expression by environmental or personal health factors that do
not alter the DNA sequence. - Answers Epigenetics
A person who has one altered copy of a gene mutation and may pass it on. - Answers Carrier
A shift from treating disease based on symptoms to targeting disease based on the patient's
genetic makeup. - Answers Genomic Era
A group of disorders caused by inherited gene mutations that increase the risk of certain
cancers. - Answers Hereditary Cancer Syndrome
Clues in a family history that may indicate a hereditary cancer syndrome. - Answers Pedigree
Red Flags
A process that helps individuals understand and adapt to the medical, psychological, and
familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. - Answers Genetic Counseling
The process by which normal cells are transformed into cancerous cells. - Answers
Carcinogenesis
The spread of cancer cells from the primary site to distant parts of the body. - Answers
Metastasis
A method used to evaluate the degree of differentiation (pathologic classification) of cancer
cells (I-IV). - Answers Tumor Grading
A classification system used to describe the size and extent of cancer; informs treatment
choice, prognosis, clinical trial eligibility, patient education, and disease expectations. - Answers
, Tumor Staging
Tumor Staging system based on size of primary tumor (T), whether cancer cells have spread to
nearby lymph nodes (N), and whether metastasis (M) has occurred. - Answers Tumor, Nodes,
Metastasis (TNM) Staging System
A type of cancer treatment that uses cytotoxic drugs to systemically destroy rapidly dividing
cancer cells. - Answers Chemotherapy
A chemotherapy drug (alkylating agent) used to treat ovarian, testicular, and bladder cancer. -
Answers Cisplatin
Unfavorable/unintended symptom associated with cancer treatment. - Answers Toxicity
When a vesicant like a chemotherapy medication infiltrates and damages surrounding tissue. -
Answers Extravasation
The use of high-energy radiation to locally damage or kill cancer cells. Use only what's
prescribed or recommended, avoid tight-fitting clothing, abrasive scrubbing, and excessive
sunlight exposure. - Answers Radiation Therapy
Amount of radiation delivered. - Answers Radiation Exposure
Amount of radiation absorbed by tissue. - Answers Radiation Dose
An oncologic emergency whereby intracellular contents are released into the bloodstream
faster than the body can eliminate them; occurs after rapid destruction of tumor cells. Watch for
hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, AKI. - Answers Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS)
An oncologic emergency caused by immunosuppression. Watch for >100.4°F, chills,
hypotension, altered mental status. - Answers Sepsis (Neutropenic Fever)
An oncologic emergency caused by pressure from tumor pressing on the spinal cord. Watch for
back pain, leg weakness, bowel/bladder dysfunction. - Answers Spinal Cord Compression (SCC)
An oncologic emergency caused by pressure from tumor compressing the superior vena cava
(SVC), causing vascular backflow to the head. Watch for facial swelling, dyspnea, neck vein
distention. - Answers Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
An oncologic emergency caused by excessive calcium release from bones. Watch for fatigue,
weakness, confusion, vomiting, constipation, dehydration, arrhythmias. - Answers
Hypercalcemia
A decrease in neutrophils, increasing a patient's risk of infection. - Answers Neutropenia
A diagnostic test in which tissue is removed and examined to determine if cancer is benign or
malignant. - Answers Biopsy