Download Understanding Cancer Activity

Understanding Cancer- Use InsideCancer.org
Name: _____________________
Click on HALLMARKS of CANCER
Overview:
1. Are all cancers inherited? Explain.
2. What is the cause of most cancers?
3. Why does the chance of acquiring cancer increase as we age?
Growing Uncontrollably:
4. What happens to the growth control signals in a cancer cell?
5. What is a tumor?
Evading Death:
6. Explain apoptosis.
7. What happens to the parts of a dead cell?
8. Do cancer cells typically undergo apoptosis?
Processing nutrients:
9. What do tumors need in order to grow beyond a certain size?
10. If angiogenesis can be prevented, what would happen to cancer cells? Why?
Invading tissues:
11. What does “metastasize” mean?
12. Why is it extremely bad when cancer metastasizes?
Promoting Mutations:
13. What is a mutation, and what kind of mutations might there be?
14. Describe how mutations might accumulate during DNA replication.
15. Describe how mutations might accumulate from cell division.
16. What is a third way mutations accumulate in cancer cells? Hint: What can’t cancer cells do?
Types of Mutations:
In a new tab or window, go to http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEPC/NIH/gene06.php
17. Do DNA mutations always result in a problem in protein structure or function? Why or why not?
***Click on the arrow at the bottom to go to the next screen.
18. What are hereditary/germ line mutations?
19. What are acquired /somatic mutations?
20. What are two ways acquired mutations can occur?
21. Why don’t all DNA mutations cause problems?
22. What happens as an organism ages?
Click on CAUSES and PREVENTION
Overview:
23. What percent of cancers are inherited? What percent are caused by synthetic chemicals?
24. On Slide 3, click to “Examine worldwide distribution of cancer types”. Explore the site, analyzing different
types of cancer, in different sexes, and in different countries. You should click on “What do hot spots have
in common?” to learn more and answer the questions below.
25. What type of cancer has traditionally been the highest in the US?
26. List a reason why Russia, Europe and the US have high lung cancer levels.
27. Why do you think liver cancer cases are so low in the United States?
28. Why are Caucasians more susceptible to skin cancer?
29. Provide an explanation for why breast cancer rates are so high in the US.
30. What is the leading cause of cervical cancer?
31. Why is a colonoscopy important?
Smoking:
32. Lung Cancer Epidemic: Look at the pie chart on Estimated US Cancer Deaths, 2005. What do you notice?
33. On slide 9 of Lung Cancer Epidemic: Comparing the two graphs, approximately how many years do cancer
deaths lag behind increases in cigarette consumption?
34. Killers in Smoke: Why is cigarette smoking so bad for you?
Inheritance:
35. List 2 types of cancer that can be inherited from parents.
36. Cancer Gene Types: Watch the video on slide 2 and then go to the following slide for more information:
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEPC/NIH/gene13.php
Make a chart with information that answers the following questions for the three types of genes
where mutations might occur to cause cancer (Oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and DNA repair
genes):
(a) What is each gene normally responsible for?
(b) What might occur if the gene is mutated?
37. Breast Cancer Gene Hunting: Why are BCRA1 and BCRA2 important in breast cancer?
Diet (Cause):
38. Why is cooking meat at high temperatures bad?
Diet (Prevention):
39. Why is chlorophyll important for preventing cancer?
40. How does eating a tomato lower the chance of prostate cancer?
Viruses:
41. How does Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) impact cancer rates?
Sunlight:
42. Should you buy a sunscreen with UVA protection or one with UVA and UVB protection? Explain your
choice.
Click on DIAGNOSIS and TREATMENT
Pathology:
Examine slides 5, 6 & 7 to differentiate (tell the difference between) normal and cancer cells.