Download CANCER UNIT

CANCER UNIT
Cancer has touched the lives of many
people. The purpose of this unit is to
help you understand cancer.
FILL IN THE BLANK
start with the left column
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CELLS
DIVIDE
NEW
DAMAGED
OLD CELLS
NUCLEUS
JOB
DIVIDE
WHEN TO QUIT DIVIDING
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NUCLEUS
UNABLE
GROW OUT OF CONTROL
CANCER
HEALTHY
MASS
LUMP
TUMOR
BLOOD STREAM
BLOOD
LYMPH SYSTEM
4 MOST COMMON CANCERS
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BREAST
COLON
LUNG
PROSTATE
UNIT VOCABULARY
• Tumor - groups of cells that divide too much and
form masses.
– Benign Tumor – not cancerous, can interfere with
body functions, surgery to remove, does not
spread.
– Malignant Tumor – cancerous, spreads to other
body parts and destroys normal tissues.
• Metastasize – a malignant tumor breaking away to
other parts of the body, the cancer spreading.
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Vocab cont.
• Oncologist – doctor specializing in cancer
care.
• Biopsy – removal of cells for examination.
• Oncogene - promoter in a DNA strand
that turns a normal cells into a cancer
cell.
Vocab cont.
• Carcinogen – substance that promotes cancer, 3
types
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– Chemical – metals, drugs, chemicals (in cigarettes)
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– Biological – viruses that attack normal cells (AIDS)
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– Physical – (environmental) exposure to radiation,
asbestos
• Remission – decrease in symptoms of a disease
(cancer)
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE CAUSES?
• Behavior and Environment
• 80 % related to this factor, ex. Eating habits, tobacco
use, excessive alcohol, air quality, exposure to
chemicals, over exposure to the sun
• Heredity
• 5-7 % family related factor, certain types of cancer
may be a family’s history
• Viruses
• Have been linked to lymphatic type cancer, HIV is a
virus leading to AIDS, These victims have a hard time
fighting cancer cells, ex. Hodgkin’s disease
TREATMENTS
• Surgery – removal of a mass or lump by
operating (sometimes does not remove all of
the cancer)
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TREATMENTS CONT.
• Chemotherapy – using chemicals (chemo) to kill
cancer cells used when cancer can’t be surgically
removed
• Common side effects of chemotherapy
Anemia – affects 50 %, reduces red blood cells
which carry oxygen (fatigue, pale, dizzy,weakness)
Depression – from emotional stress
Hair loss- some chemotherapy kills hair cells, will
grow back after treatments are over
Loss of appetite – affects cells og digestive system, taste
affected
Nausea and vomiting –
TREATMENTS CONT.
• Radiation – using x-rays to reduce tumor size
before surgery or to destroy remaining cancer
cells after surgery, disadvantage (will destroy
surrounding healthy cells)
• Immunotherapy – new technology to
stimulate the immune system so your body
can fight the cancer
SKIN CANCER
• Carcinoma – cancer that begins in cells that cover the organs (skin)
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• 2 types melanoma and nonmelanoma
• NONMELANOMA – 2 TYPES
– Basal cell carcinoma – most common skin cancer, 95 % caused by sun
exposure, slow growing, seldom spreads to other parts of the body.
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– Squamous cell carcinoma – similar to basal cell
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• Melanoma – less common but more serious than non. skin cancer
that spreads often to internal tissues and/or organs (METASTASIS),
most serious skin cancer, from sun exposure and blistering, painful
sunburns especially when young
ABCD Rule to help you remember the
important signs of melanoma
• A = ASYMMETRY – one half does not match the other half
(fig. 2)
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• B = BORDER IRREGULARITY – the edges are ragged,
notched, blurred (fig. 3)
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• C = COLOR – The pigmentation is not uniform. Shades of
tan, brown, black are present. Red, white and blue may
add to the mottled appearance (fig. 4)
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• D = DIAMETER GREATER THAN 6 MILLIMETERS – Any
sudden or continuing increase in size should be of special
concern (fig. 5)
THE 7 WARNING SIGNS OF CANCER –
C A U T I O N
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Change in bowel or bladder
A sore that doesn’t heal
Unusual bleeding or discharge
Thickening or lump
Indigestion that is persistent
Obvious change in wart or mole
Nagging cough
LIFESTYLE AND CANCER
• Risk Factors - exposure to dangers
• Tobacco – single greatest cause of cancer, responsible for 75-85% of
lung cancers, most common fatal cancer in US
• Secondary smoke – smoke inhaled as a result of being next to people
who smoke
• Diet and nutrition – high fat diets, charred foods contain carcinogenic
tars, obesity is a risk factor
• Alcohol consumption – alcohol is a promoter, promoters cause healthy
cells to turn cancerous
• Sunlight – over exposure to UV rays, main cause of skin cancer, SPF 15+
reduces the risk, fair skinned at greater risk due to less melanin in
pigment (melanin blocks UV rays)
EXAMINATIONS
• Breast Self Exam
• Colon and rectal exam
• Testicular exam
• Pap Test (cervix)
• Skin examination
IDEAS TO CUT YOUR CANCER RISK
• fruits, berries, broccoli,
tomatoes, garlic, olive
oil, grapes, bran, cold
water fish, soy, green
tea, ***cruciferous
• Use whole wheat
rather than white flour
• walking and jogging
• Avoid alcohol
• for weight control
• use low fat and
avoid frying
• Use less salt
• they contain
carcinogens
• Refrigerate foods
quickly
• Eat foods that
contain antioxidants
(compounds that
protect DNA)