Download skin cancer Webquest - changing-the

Webquest: Investigating Different Types of Cancer
A CLOSER LOOK AT CANCER
Some activities in life are highly regulated. For instance, think about an amusement park. Some rides in
the park are restricted to people of a certain height or age. Every ride can only hold a certain number of
people, so visitors must wait for their turn. Each part of the park is regulated. Imagine the chaos that
would erupt if everyone broke the rules.
In our bodies, the cell cycle is highly regulated. Cells grow, divide, and die in regulated steps. But
sometimes, damaged cells break the rules and reproduce unchecked, causing cancer. In this activity,
you’ll learn about cancer and how it relates to the cell cycle.
Did you know that more than one million people in the United States are diagnosed with some form of
skin cancer every year? Imagine that you have a friend who is constantly getting sunburned, and you
want to convince your friend to take precautions in the sun. What would you say?
Part I: Go to http://www.virtualcancercentre.com/anatomy.asp?sid=3
1. What causes the growth of a tumor?
2. How do cancer cells spread through the body?
3. How are tumors classified?
4. What causes unregulated cell growth?
5. What does TNM stand for? What does it indicate?
Part II: Go to the Center of Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin
Click on the “Basic Information” link
6. What is the most common form of cancer in the U.S.?
7. What is the main cause of skin cancer?
Click on the “Risk Factors” link
8. What are the general risk factors that make individuals more susceptible to developing cancer?
Click on the “Prevention” link
9. When is the most dangerous time to be in the sun?
10. What is the minimum level sunscreen you should wear to block most of the harmful UV light?
Part III: Go to the National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wynk/melanoma
Click on the “Signs and Symptoms” link
11. What is the most common sign of skin cancer?
Click on the “Diagnosis” link
12. How is skin cancer diagnosed?
Click on the “Stages of Melanoma” link
13. Briefly describe the 4 stages of Melanoma.
Click on the “Methods of Treatment” link
14. Briefly describe the methods of treatment
B. OTHER FORMS OF CANCER
Choose one of the types of cancer from the list on the Centers of Disease Control website. Go to
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin and click on the link, Other Types of Cancer.
1. After you choose a type of cancer, write it here:
2. What part of the body does this cancer affect?
3. What is the normal function of that body part?
4. What are some of the risk factors associated with contracting this cancer?
5. What are the most common signs/symptoms of this disease?
6. How is it detected and/or diagnosed?
7. What is the rate of survival for this type of cancer (you might need to discuss different stages)?
8. What is the most commonly recommended type of treatment for this cancer?
9. Describe some side effects of the treatment.
10. List at least 2 statistics involving this type of cancer.