[Education] Head, Neck, and Thyroid Cancers Fundamentals

HOPA Now is the official podcast of the Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy Association, an organization dedicated to supporting pharmacy practitioners and promoting the advancement of Hematology/Oncology/Pharmacy to optimize the care of individuals impacted by cancer.

 

These educational podcasts are part of our BCOP Preparatory and Recertification Course, which is designed to prepare oncology pharmacists preparing to sit for the BCOP Certification Exam, as well as meet the BPS requirement to complete a BCOP Preparatory/Recertification Review Course.

 

In this episode of HOPA Now, Dr. Linda Barnachea highlights the fundamentals of both head and neck cancer as well as thyroid cancer. She details the statistics and risk factors of each, explains the characteristics of the clinical presentation and the pathophysiology of each, and explains the role of molecular testing in targeted therapies and clinical trials in the diagnosis and treatment of each of these cancers.

 

In this episode you will learn:

 

Head, Neck, and Thyroid Cancer Fundamentals

• The five areas from which head and neck cancer generally originates
• Statistics and risk factors regarding head and neck cancer
• The relationship between HPV and oropharyngeal cancers and the pathophysiology of the disease
• Characteristics of the clinical presentation for head and neck cancer and diagnoses parameters
• Thyroid cancer statistics and risk factors including hereditary conditions, exposure to radiation and iodine in the diet
• Pathophysiology of thyroid cancers and its associated mutations
• The role of molecular testing in both the curative setting and in targeted therapy and clinical trials
• Clinical presentation of thyroid cancer and an overview of the thyroid cancer staging system

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

 

Quotes:

 

“Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world and generally starts from one of five areas.” — Dr. Linda Barnachea

 

“It has been noted that epidermal growth factor receptors are overexpressed in 90 percent of head and neck cancers.” — Dr. Linda Barnachea

 

“Thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy in the endocrine system.”
— Dr. Linda Barnachea

 

“Only 4 to 6.5 percent of all thyroid nodules result in thyroid malignancy.”
— Dr. Linda Barnachea