Drugs

Theralene (audio) [theer-uh-leen]

confusion [kuh n-fyoo-zhuh n]

sedation [si-dey-shuh n]

hypotension [hahy-puh-ten-shuh n]

trimeprazine [trahy-meh-per-zeen]  (audio)

Doctor to Patient

1. Please contact me if you experience any of the following:  confusion, sedation , or hypotension.
2. Do not drive or do anything that can hurt you, if you feel drowsy.
3. Do not drink alcohol and other CNS depressants while on trimeprazine.

Motilium (audio) [moh-til-ee-uhm]

Domperidone [dome-PER-i-done]

Uses

This medication is used to treat disorders caused by decreased movement of the stomach and upper intestines (e.g., diabetic gastroparesis, gastritis). It works by increasing stomach emptying and movement of the upper intestines. Treating these disorders can help decrease symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and constant feeling of stomach fullness.


This medication is also used to prevent side effects (e.g., nausea, vomiting) from certain medications used to treat Parkinson's disease (e.g., levodopa, dopamine agonists such as pergolide).

How To Use

Take this medication by mouth, usually 3 to 4 times daily (15 to 30 minutes before meals and at bedtime) or as directed by your doctor.

Clarithromycin (audio) [klahr-i-throh-mahy-sin]

Augmentin (audio) [awg-men-tin]

Cefixime (audio) [suh-fiks-eem]

Diamicron (audio) [dahy-am-i-kron]

Glucophage (audio) [gloo-koh-feyj]

Trajenta (audio) [truh-yin-tuh]

Lipanthyl (audio) [lip-uh n-th il]

Lipitor (audio) [lip-ee-tohr]

Nexium (audio) [nek-see-uhm]

Lung Cancer

Vocabulary Pronunciation
cancerous tumor [kan-ser-us] [too-mer]
lymph node [limf] [nohd]
diagnosed [dahy-uh g-nohs t, dahy-uh g-nohs t]
diagnosis [dahy-uh g-noh-sis]
squamous cell carcinoma [skwey-muh s] [sel] [kahr-suh-noh-muh]
adenocarcinoma [ad-n-oh-kahr-suh-noh-muh]
large-cell carcinoma [kahr-suh-noh-muh]
cancerous cells [kan-ser-us] [selz]
radiotherapy [rey-dee-oh-ther-uh-pee]
chemotherapy [kee-moh-ther-uh-pee]







Introduction

Lung cancer is one of the most common and serious types of cancer. Lung cancer is diagnosed in an estimated 174000 Americans each year.  Over 41,000 people are diagnosed with the condition every year in the UK.

The most common symptoms of lung cancer are:

• A cough that does not go away or gets worse.
• Chest pain that is often worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing.
• Hoarseness.
• Weight loss and loss of appetite.
• Coughing up blood or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm)
• Shortness of breath.
• Feeling tired or weak.

Types of lung cancer

• non-small-cell lung cancer – the most common type, accounting for more than 80% of cases; can be either squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or large-cell carcinoma

• small-cell lung cancer – a less common type that usually spreads faster than non-small-cell lung cancer

You should see your GP if you have these symptoms.

Cancer that begins in the lungs is called primary lung cancer. Cancer that begins in another part of the body and spreads to the lungs is known as secondary lung cancer. This page is about primary lung cancer.

There are two main types of primary lung cancer. These are classified by the type of cells in which the cancer starts. They are:

The type of lung cancer you have will determine which treatments are recommended.

Lung cancer mainly affects older people. It is rare in people younger than 40, but the rates of lung cancer rise sharply with age. Lung cancer is most commonly diagnosed in people aged 70-74 years.

Although people who have never smoked can develop lung cancer, smoking is the main cause (about 90% of cases). This is because smoking involves regularly inhaling a number of different toxic substances.

The treatment for lung cancer depends on the type of cancer, how far it has spread and how good your general health is.

If the condition is diagnosed early and the cancerous cells are confined to a small area, surgery to remove the affected area of lung is usually recommended.

If surgery is unsuitable due to your general health, radiotherapy to destroy the cancerous cells may be recommended instead.

If the cancer has spread too far for surgery or radiotherapy to be effective, chemotherapy is usually used.

As lung cancer does not usually cause noticeable symptoms until it has spread through much of the lungs or into other parts of the body, the outlook for the condition is not as good as many other types of cancer.

Overall, about 1 in 3 people with the condition will live for at least a year after they are diagnosed and fewer than 1 in 10 people will live at least five years.

However, survival rates can vary widely depending on how far the cancer has spread at the time of the diagnosis. Early diagnosis can make a big difference.

Oxaliplatin

Vocabulary

Oxaliplatin [ox al i pla tin] or American Pronunciation = [ox al i pla in]

antineoplastic [an-tee-nee-oh-plas-tik, an-tahy-]

cytotoxic [sahy-tuh-tok-sin] 

chemotherapy [kee-moh-ther-uh-pee, kem-oh-] 

alkylating [al-kuh-leyt]

colon cancer [koh-luh n] [kan-ser] 

rectal cancer [rek-tl] [kan-ser] 

metastasized [muh-tas-tuh-sahyz d] 

fluorouracil [flohr-uh-yoo r-uh-sil] 

leucovorin (lōō-kŏv-ər-ĭn) 

physicians [fi-zish-uh nz] 

infusion [in-fyoo-zhuh n] 

intravenous [in-truh-vee-nuh s] 

IV [ahy] [vee] 

dosage [doh-sij] 

jaw spasm [spaz-uh m] 

Trade Name: Eloxatin TM

Drug Type:

Oxaliplatin is an anti-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") chemotherapy drug.  Oxaliplatin is classified as an "alkylating agent."  For more detail, see "How Oxaliplatin Works" section below.

What Oxaliplatin Is Used For:

• Oxaliplatin is used to treat colon or rectal cancer that has spread (metastasized), it is often given in combination with other anticancer drugs (fluorouracil and leucovorin).

Note:  If a drug has been approved for one use, physicians sometimes elect to use this same drug for other problems if they believe it might be helpful.

How Oxaliplatin Is Given:

• It is given by infusion into the vein (intravenous, IV).
• There is no pill form of Oxaliplatin.
• The amount of Oxaliplatin you will receive depends on many factors, including your height and weight, your general health or other health problems, and the type of cancer you have.  Your doctor will determine your dosage and schedule.

Oxaliplatin Side Effects:

Important things to remember about Oxaliplatin side effects:

• Most people do not experience all of the Oxaliplatin side effects listed.
• Oxaliplatin side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset and duration.
• Oxaliplatin side effects are almost always reversible and will go away after treatment is complete.
• There are many options to help minimize or prevent Oxaliplatin side effects.  
• There is no relationship between the presence or severity of Oxaliplatin side effects and the effectiveness of Oxaliplatin.

Oxaliplatin Infusion Related Side Effects:

• The feeling of difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, jaw spasm, abnormal tongue sensation and feeling of chest pressure.  This has been reported rarely (<5%).  It generally starts within hours of Oxaliplatin infusion and often occurs upon exposure to cold.  Avoiding exposure to cold (see self care tips below) helps to prevent this adverse reaction.  Future Oxaliplatin infusions may be given over a longer time frame to help reduce the incidence.  

The following Oxaliplatin side effects are common (occurring in greater than 30%) for patients taking Oxaliplatin:

• Peripheral [puh-rif-er-uh l]  neuropathy [noo-rop-uh-thee]  - Numbness and tingling and cramping of the hands or feet often triggered by cold.  This symptom will generally lessen or go away between treatments, however as the number of treatments increase the numbness and tingling will take longer to lessen or go away. Your health care professional will monitor this symptom with you and adjust your dose accordingly.
• Nausea [naw-zee-uh] and vomiting
• Diarrhea [dahy-uh-ree-uh] 
• Mouth sores
• Low blood counts - Your white and red blood cells and platelets may temporarily decrease. This can put you at increased risk for infection, anemia and/or bleeding.
• Fatigue [fuh-teeg] 
• Loss of appetite [ap-i-tahyt] 

The following are less common Oxaliplatin side effects (occurring in 10-29%) for patients receiving Oxaliplatin:

• Constipation [kon-stuh-pey-shuh n] 
• Fever
• Generalized pain
• Headache [hed-eyk] 
• Cough
• Temporary increases in blood tests measuring liver function. (see liver problems).
• Allergic reaction: a rare side effect, however, call for help immediately if you suddenly have difficulty breathing, your throat feels like it is closing, or chest pain.  Other signs of allergic reaction include rash, hives, sudden cough, or swelling of the lips or tongue.

This list includes common and less common side effects for individuals taking Oxaliplatin. Side effects that are very rare, occurring in less than 10% of patients, are not listed here.  However, you should always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.

Telephone Etiquette

How to Plan Your Telephone Conversation

1. Introduce yourself:  "Hello, this is _____ calling from _____."
2. Ask if this is a good time to talk:  "Are you busy?  I just need _____ minutes of your time."
3. State the reason for the call:  "I'm calling about...  I would like to discuss..."
4. Discuss your key points:  Keep to the point and don't wander off to topic.
5. Agree any follow-up:  Decide details for any forther call, email, or meeting.
6. Say goodbye.

How to Respond

1. If you are busy, say:
• "I am busy.  May I call you back?"
• "I am busy.  Can you call me back in ____ minutes?"
• "I am in a meeting.  May I call you back?"
• "I am with a patient.  Can you call me back in ____ minutes?"
2. If you are not busy, say:
• "No, I'm not busy.  How may I help you?"

Pedatrician

Pronunciation
Pediatrics or Paediatrics [pee-dee-a-triks]
Pediatrician [pee-dee-uh-trish-uh n]
Adolescents [ad-l-es-uh nt s]
Immunizations [im-yuh-nuh-zey-shuh n z]
Diagnose [dahy-uh g-nohs]





What Is a Pediatrician?
Pedeatrics is the branch of medicine concerned with the development, medical care, and diseases of babies/infants, children, and adolescents, and the age limit usually ranges from birth up to 18 years of age (in some places until completion of secondary education, and until age 21 in the United States).  A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician. The word paediatrics and its cognates mean "healer of children"; they derive from two Greek words: παῖς (pais "child") and ἰατρός (iatros "doctor, healer")


What Does Your Pediatrician Do?
Your pediatrician will see your child many times from birth to age 2 and annually from age 2 to age 5 for "well-child visits." After age 5, your pediatrician will likely continue to see your child every year for annual checkups. Your pediatrician is also the first person to call whenever your child is sick. In caring for your child, a pediatrician will:

• Do physical exams.
• Give your child recommended immunizations.
• Make sure your child is meeting developmental milestones in growth, behavior, and skills.
• Diagnose and treat your child's illnesses, infections, injuries, and other health problems.
• Give you information about your child's health, safety, nutrition, and fitness needs.
• Answer your questions about your child's growth and development.
• Refer to and collaborate with specialists should your child need care beyond the pediatrician's expertise.

Why Do You Need a Pediatrician?

Family physicians can also provide routine care for children. Choosing between a family doctor and a pediatrician can be a personal preference. Here are some reasons to consider choosing a pediatrician:

• Pediatricians have specialized training in the physical, emotional, and behavioral needs of children.
• Pediatricians only see children, so they often have a broader experience recognizing and treating childhood illnesses.
• If your child was born early or has a health condition that needs close monitoring, a pediatrician may offer more specialized care.