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Description of the PDF File
This document is the Description of the PDF File
This document is the "Medical Oncology Handbook for Junior Medical Officers" (5th Edition, June 2020), published by the Department of Medical Oncology at the Townsville Cancer Centre, Townsville University Hospital, Australia. It serves as a practical, clinical orientation guide for Resident Medical Officers (RMOs), interns, and basic physician trainees rotating through the oncology department. The handbook provides a structured approach to the management of patients undergoing systemic therapy, covering essential workflows such as documentation in the MOSAIQ system, participation in multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), and day unit protocols. It details the principles of assessing fitness for treatment using performance status scales, managing chemotherapy toxicities (such as emesis, neutropenia, and neuropathy), and understanding the mechanisms and side effects of newer therapies like targeted agents and immunotherapy. Furthermore, it offers protocols for managing medical emergencies like febrile neutropenia and spinal cord compression, and provides summaries of treatment standards for common malignancies, including breast, gastrointestinal, and lung cancers.
2. Key Points, Headings, Topics, and Questions
Heading 1: Orientation and Departmental Workflow
Topic: Junior Medical Officer (JMO) Roles
Key Points:
Electronic Systems: Use MOSAIQ for oncology-specific notes and ieMR for general hospital records.
Rosters: JMOs are the first point of call for Day Unit issues and must ensure timely discharges to maintain flow.
Clinics: "On Time" is critical to prevent chemotherapy delays. All changes must be discussed with registrars/consultants.
Documentation: Accurate coding is vital for department funding.
Self-Care: Maintaining work-life balance is crucial due to the emotional nature of oncology.
Study Questions:
What is the primary purpose of the MOSAIQ system in this department?
Why is punctuality particularly important in the oncology clinic setting?
Heading 2: Principles of Systemic Therapy Management
Topic: Assessing Fitness for Treatment
Key Points:
ECOG Performance Status: A scale (0-4) used to grade patient activity. Usually, patients with a score >2 are not fit for chemotherapy.
Blood Parameters: Neutrophils >1.5 and Platelets >100 are generally required. Renal/Liver function checks are essential for specific drugs (e.g., Cisplatin, Docetaxel).
Pregnancy: Beta HCG must be checked before initiating treatment.
Fertility: Discuss preservation (semen/egg/embryo) before starting.
Topic: Toxicity Management
Key Points:
Grading: Toxicities are graded (NCI CTCAE). Dose delays or reductions occur for severe toxicity.
Organ Specifics: Cardiac monitoring for Anthracyclines/Herceptin; Lung monitoring for Bleomycin; Renal monitoring for Cisplatin.
Study Questions:
According to the ECOG scale, what defines a Grade 2 patient?
What are the minimum blood count requirements generally needed to safely administer chemotherapy?
Heading 3: Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy, and Immunotherapy
Topic: Chemotherapy & Emesis
Key Points:
Emetogenic Potential: Categorized as High, Moderate, Low, and Minimal (e.g., Cisplatin is High; Bleomycin is Low).
Antiemetics: Three classes are key: NK1 Antagonists (Aprepitant), 5HT3 Antagonists (Ondansetron/Palonosetron), and Corticosteroids (Dexamethasone).
Topic: Targeted Therapy
Key Points:
Uses "smart bombs" targeting specific pathways (e.g., EGFR, HER2, BRAF).
Examples: Trastuzumab (Breast), Erlotinib (Lung), Imatinib (GIST).
Topic: Immunotherapy (Checkpoint Inhibitors)
Key Points:
Drugs like Ipilimumab, Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab.
Immune-Related Adverse Events (irAEs): Unique side effects (colitis, pneumonitis, hepatitis) caused by an overactive immune system.
Treatment: High-dose steroids are the primary management for moderate/severe irAEs.
Study Questions:
Name the three main classes of drugs used to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
What are "irAEs" and how are they typically managed?
Heading 4: Oncology Emergencies
Topic: Febrile Neutropenia
Key Points:
Definition: Single temp >38.3°C OR >38°C sustained over 1 hour + ANC <500 or <1000 with predicted decline.
Management: Medical Emergency. Immediate broad-spectrum antibiotics (e.g., Tazocin/Cefepime). Do not wait for results.
Risk Stratification: High-risk patients have long neutropenia (>7 days), comorbidities, or instability.
Topic: Extravasation
Key Points:
Leakage of vesicant drugs into tissue.
Management: Stop infusion, aspirate residual drug, apply specific antidotes (e.g., Hyaluronidase for Vinca alkaloids, Sodium Thiosulfate for Nitrogen mustard), and apply hot or cold packs depending on the drug.
Topic: Other Emergencies
Key Points:
Spinal Cord Compression: High dose Dexamethasone + Urgent MRI.
SVC Obstruction: Radiotherapy or Stenting.
Hypercalcemia: Hydration + Zoledronic acid.
Study Questions:
What is the immediate antibiotic management for a patient presenting with febrile neutropenia?
Differentiate between the management of extravasation for Vinca alkaloids versus Anthracyclines.
Heading 5: Summary of Common Cancers
Topic: Breast Cancer
Key Points:
Early Stage: Surgery + Adjuvant therapy (Chemo, Herceptin for HER2+, Hormonal therapy for ER/PR+).
Metastatic: Endocrine therapy +/- CDK inhibitors for ER+; Chemotherapy/Targeted therapy for others.
Topic: Gastro-Intestinal Cancers
Key Points:
Anal Cancer: Concurrent Chemo-Radiation (Mitomycin C + 5FU) is standard.
Gastric/Gastro-Oesophageal: FLOT or ECF/EOX regimens. Trastuzumab for HER2+ disease.
Study Questions:
* What is the standard definitive treatment for Anal Cancer?
* What is the role of Herceptin in the management of Gastric cancer?
3. Easy Explanation (Simplified Concepts)
What is Systemic Therapy?
It means treating cancer with drugs that travel throughout the whole body (bloodstream), rather than just targeting one spot like surgery or radiation.
Chemotherapy: Fast-acting drugs that kill rapidly dividing cells (good for fast-growing tumors, but hits hair/gut too).
Targeted Therapy: Like a sniper. It looks for a specific gene or protein in the cancer cell and blocks it, leaving normal cells mostly alone.
Immunotherapy: Takes the brakes off the patient's own immune system so it can recognize and attack the cancer.
The "Fitness Check" (ECOG Status)
Before giving toxic drugs, doctors ask: "Can this patient handle this?"
0: Totally normal, no restrictions.
1: Can't run a marathon, but can walk around and do light work.
2: Can walk around, but can't work. In bed <50% of the day.
3+: Mostly in bed. (Usually too sick for chemo).
Febrile Neutropenia: The "Code Red"
Chemotherapy kills white blood cells (neutrophils), which fight infection. If the patient has a fever while their immunity is at zero, they are in mortal danger. Do not wait. Start antibiotics immediately.
Extravasation: Leaks
Some chemo drugs are "Vesicants"—meaning they burn skin if they leak out of the vein.
Vincristine: Burns hot. Antidote: Hyaluronidase (spreads the drug out so it dilutes).
Doxorubicin: Burns cold. Antidote: DMSO (draws it out) or Ice packs.
4. Presentation Structure
Slide 1: Title Slide
Title: Medical Oncology Handbook for Junior Medical Officers
Subtitle: Orientation, Management Principles, and Emergencies
Source: Townsville Cancer Centre (5th Ed, 2020)
Slide 2: Orientation to Oncology
Key Systems: MOSAIQ (Oncology EMR) & ieMR.
JMO Role:
Day Unit Safety (First responder).
Clinics (Time management is key).
Ward Care (Fitness for chemo).
Multidisciplinary Team (MDT): Weekly meetings for Tumor Boards.
Slide 3: Assessing Fitness for Treatment
ECOG Performance Status: The "0-4" Scale.
Rule of Thumb: Generally, chemo is not offered if Grade >2.
Bloods:
Neutrophils >1.5, Platelets >100.
Renal/Liver function check.
Organ Monitoring: Heart (ECHO), Lungs (Spirometry).
Slide 4: Types of Systemic Therapy
Chemotherapy: Cytotoxic agents (e.g., Taxanes, Platinum).
Side Effects: Nausea/Vomiting, Neuropathy, Myelosuppression.
Targeted Therapy: "Smart Bombs" (e.g., Trastuzumab, Erlotinib).
Immunotherapy: Checkpoint Inhibitors (e.g., Nivolumab).
Risk: Immune-related adverse events (Colitis, Pneumonitis).
Slide 5: Managing Emesis (Nausea/Vomiting)
High Risk (e.g., Cisplatin):
NK1 Antagonist (Aprepitant).
5HT3 Antagonist (Ondansetron).
Dexamethasone.
Moderate/Low Risk:
5HT3 Antagonist + Dexamethasone OR Metoclopramide.
Slide 6: Oncology Emergencies - Part 1
Febrile Neutropenia:
Definition: Fever + Low Neutrophils.
Action: Immediate Antibiotics (Tazocin/Cefepime).
Spinal Cord Compression:
Action: Urgent MRI + High Dose Dexamethasone.
Slide 7: Oncology Emergencies - Part 2
Extravasation:
Action: Stop infusion, aspirate.
Vinca Alkaloids: Warm packs + Hyaluronidase.
Anthracyclines: Cold packs + DMSO.
Hypercalcemia: Hydration + Zoledronic Acid.
Slide 8: Common Cancer Management Summaries
Breast Cancer:
ER/PR+: Hormonal therapy (Tamoxifen/AIs).
HER2+: Trastuzumab/Pertuzumab.
Anal Cancer: Chemo-Radiation (Mitomycin C + 5FU).
Gastric Cancer: Peri-operative Chemotherapy (FLOT/ECF).... |