Download CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY NEWS

CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY NEWS
What is cancer?
Cancer is a disease that starts in our cells. Our bodies are made up of millions of cells, grouped together to form
tissues and organs such as muscles and bones, the lungs and the liver. Genes inside each cell order it to grow,
work, reproduce and die. Normally, our cells obey these orders and we remain healthy. But sometimes the
instructions get mixed up, causing the cells to divide uncontrollably forming lumps or tumours, or spread through
the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body.
Tumours can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumour cells stay in one place
in the body and are not usually life-threatening.
Malignant tumour cells are able to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells that
spread to other parts of the body are called metastases.
The first sign that a malignant tumour has spread (metastasized) is often swelling of nearby lymph nodes, but
cancer can metastasize to almost any part of the body. It is important to find malignant tumours as early as
possible.
Cancers are named after the part of the body where they start. For example, cancer that starts in the bladder but
spreads to the lung is called bladder cancer with lung metastases.
What is melanoma?
Melanoma is a cancer that most often starts in the skin. The skin is the body’s largest organ. It protects the
organs inside your body from injury, infection, heat and ultraviolet light from the sun. The skin helps control your
body temperature and gets rid of waste materials through the sweat glands. It also makes vitamin D and stores
water and fat.
The skin has two main layers. The layer at the surface is called the epidermis. Below the epidermis is the inner
layer, the dermis.
Deep in the epidermis are cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes make melanin, which gives colour to your skin.
When skin is exposed to the sun, the melanocytes make more melanin and cause the skin to tan or darken.
Sometimes melanocytes cluster together and form moles (called nevi). Moles are common and are usually not
cancerous. The dermis contains nerves, blood vessels, sweat glands, oil glands and hair follicles.
There are three types of skin cancer.
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Squamous cell skin cancer starts in the squamous cells (thin flat cells found on the surface of the skin).
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Basal cell skin cancer starts in the basal cells (round cells that lie under the squamous cells).
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Melanoma starts in the melanocytes.
Melanoma is less common than squamous cell and basal cell skin cancers (sometimes called non-melanoma
skin cancers). Melanoma can start in other places in the body where melanocytes are found, such as the eyes,
the mouth, the vagina or under the fingernails. These types of melanoma are rare.
Treatment
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a method of treating cancer by using drugs. Often, a combination of chemotherapy drugs is
used.
How chemotherapy works
Cancer cells grow in an uncontrolled way. Chemotherapy drugs slow or even stop the cancer cells from growing,
multiplying or spreading to other parts of your body.
Chemotherapy is a powerful treatment affecting the whole body, so healthy cells can also be damaged. This
damage to healthy cells causes side effects. The damage is mostly temporary and the healthy cells will repair
themselves.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is the use of a certain type of energy (radiation) from x-rays, gamma rays, electrons and other
sources to destroy cancer cells. Other names for this common method of treating cancer are radiotherapy, x-ray
therapy or irradiation.
Radiation in high doses destroys cells in the area being treated by damaging the DNA in their genes, making it
impossible for them to grow and divide. During radiation therapy, both cancer cells (which are growing in an
uncontrolled way) and healthy cells are affected, but most healthy cells can repair themselves afterwards.
Cancer in young adults
Cancer is a devastating disease for anyone, but it is especially difficult for young people as they may be raising a
young family or a diagnosis may disrupt their education and career plans.
While the majority of cancer cases occur in older people, young people are not immune to this disease.
General cancer statistics for 2010
An estimated 173,800 new cases of cancer (excluding about 75,500 non-melanoma skin cancers) and 76,200
deaths will occur in Canada in 2010.

Approximately 83,900 Canadian women will be diagnosed with cancer and an estimated 36,200 women will
die of cancer.
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Approximately 90,000 Canadian men will be diagnosed with cancer and an estimated 40,000 men will die of
cancer.

On average, 3,340 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer every week.

On average, 1,470 Canadians will die of cancer every week.
The risk of cancer increases with age: 43% of new cancer cases and 61% of cancer deaths will occur among
those who are at least 70 years old. However, cancer can occur at all ages.
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Lung, prostate, breast and colorectal cancer account for 50% of all new cancer cases every year.
Lung cancer accounts for over a quarter (27%) of all cancer deaths each year.
Breast cancer accounts for over a quarter (28%) of new cancer cases in women.
Prostate cancer accounts for over a quarter (27%) of new cancer cases in men.
Probability of developing or dying from cancer
Based on 2009 incidence rates, 40% of Canadian women and 45% of men will develop cancer during their
lifetimes.
An estimated 1 out of every 4 Canadians are expected to die from cancer.
Cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Canada: 1,026,600 years of life were lost in 2004 as a result
of cancer. This represents 32% of the potential years of life lost resulting from all causes of death.
Prevalence
At the beginning of the year 2005, there were approximately 723,000 cases of cancer that had been diagnosed
in the previous 10 years.
Survival
Based on 2002-2004 estimates, 62% of people are expected to survive for 5 years after their cancer diagnosis
compared to the general population of the same age and sex. Survival rates differ according to the type of
cancer.
The Canadian Cancer Society understands that Canadians are concerned about cancer, but recommends that
you be cautious of any information or claims obtained from unmonitored sources, in particular the Internet. The
Internet can be an empowering source of information, but a healthcare professional should be consulted before
making medical decisions.
Cancer Myths
Antiperspirants and breast cancer
Bras and breast cancer
Food additives
Microwaves and plastic containers
Oysters and soy sauce
Reusing disposable water bottles
Sunless tanning products
Tampons and cancer
CANCER ASSIGNMENT
/ 20
POINT FORM IS FINE WHEN GENERATING YOUR ANSWER. Your answers must be more that 1 word.
Several detailed points are required (as a minimum) to answer these questions properly. The questions that are
underlined may require additional research to properly answer.
EACH QUESTION IS WORTH 1 MARK!!! (A4 – Describe the relationship between lifestyle choices and
personal health and well-being)
1.
What is Cancer?
2.
What happens to the genetic instructions in cells leading to Cancer?
3.
Compare and contrast Benign and Malignant Tumors.
4.
What is metastasis?
5.
How are cancers named? Provide a couple examples.
6.
What is melanoma?
7.
Explain how Chemotherapy works as a treatment option for Cancer.
8.
Explain how Radiation Therapy works as a treatment option for Cancer.
9.
During treatments involving Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy, are only cancer cells affected?
10.
What are some signs and symptoms that you may be familiar with that occur when someone has been
undergoing Radiation Therapy?
11.
Does cancer affect any particular population of people?
12.
Explain what personal lifestyle factors can be controlled that might reduce one’s risk of acquiring Cancer.
13.
Why might there be a risk of cancer recurring, even when surgery is performed to remove a malignant tumour?
14.
Why might a doctor be concerned to find cancer cells in a patient’s blood?
15.
What are mutations?
16.
What are carcinogens?
17.
What is a Pap Test?
18.
What virus has been linked to cervical cancer in women?
19.
What is meant by the term “ABCDE of moles”?
20.
What is a tissue biopsy? What is the purpose of a biopsy?
21.
How is cancer staged to determine the severity and level of involvement of the disease?
There are a number of myths regarding causes of Cancer. However, there is a well documented link that has
been established between Tanning Beds and Skin Cancer. Read the following news release and answer the
following questions.
SUNBED CANCER RISK FOR TEENS
A World Health Organization (WHO) press (November, 2008) release* has warned against the use of sunbeds,
highlighting the risks they pose of developing deadly skin cancers. They particularly recommend teenagers avoid
sunbed use, “It is known that young people who get burnt from exposure to ultraviolet will have a greater risk of
developing melanoma [the most dangerous form of skin cancer] later in life.” Research proves there is a direct
link between the use of sunbeds and cancer. The press release warns that “some sunbeds have the capacity to
emit levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation many times stronger than the mid-day summer sun”. Despite this littleknown fact, sunbeds remain very popular with young people, especially women. Teenagers have become
obsessed with getting or maintaining a sun tan, which has become a very powerful fashion statement. Girls as
young as thirteen go to tanning “top-up” salons in the misguided belief that a tan is healthy.
The WHO offers some scary statistics for sun and sunbed worshippers. It estimates there to be “132 000 cases
of malignant melanoma … annually, and an estimated
66 000 deaths from malignant melanoma and other skin cancers.” It says fair skinned people, where the sun
tanning culture is strongest, are most at risk. Other very real dangers include eye damage; premature skin
ageing (wrinkles); and a reduction in the effectiveness of the immune system, which can lead to a greater risk of
infectious diseases. The dangers are in fact so great that the WHO Assistant Director-General responsible for
environmental health, Dr Kerstin Leitner, has urged governments “to adopt stricter controls on the usage of
sunbeds”. She recommends their use “only in very rare and specific cases … under qualified medical
supervision in an approved medical clinic”.
22.
What was interesting in this article? (YOU CAN’T SAY NOTHING!!!!!!)
23.
Sun tanning is a personal choice like smoking and everyone should be able to do whatever they want
even if there are risks. What are your thoughts?
24.
Do you worry about cancer? Explain.
25.
What other unhealthy things do people do to follow fashion? Why?
26.
If this article was posted in a school newsletter and passed out to all students, do you think this report
would change the likelihood of students using sun tanning booths? Explain.