Download 13 Additional Material and Lesson Plans

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Additional Material and Lesson Plans
1. Cancer Awareness
Background information: what is cancer?
The following background information is adapted from booklets produced by the Irish Cancer
Society to help people understand cancer and its treatments.
What is cancer? How does it occur?
The word cancer is used to describe a group of diseases. There are 200 forms of cancer; each
has its own name. The most common cancers affect the skin, lung and bowel. Each organ in
the body is made up of tiny cells. Our cells grow and multiply throughout our lives. Cell growth
and multiplication is a natural process called the cell cycle. In healthy tissue, these cells repair or
replace themselves when they get injured or worn out. Cancer occurs when cells become faulty
and do not behave as normal; these damaged cells begin to multiply much faster than the healthy
ones. As the cells multiply they begin to stick together in lumps called tumours.
Who gets cancer?
Cancer can affect anyone, but it is more common in older people. As you get older, the risk of
getting cancer increases as a result of an accumulation of cell damage. However, children can get
cancer and the most common form is leukaemia. This is a cancer of the blood, which spreads into
the bone marrow (soft tissue in the middle of the bone).
Cancer can be a result of normal biological processes in our cells or lifestyle factors, such as smoking,
an unhealthy diet, and over-exposure to the sun or certain chemicals. Some people also inherit a
small amount of cell damage. This damage to cells can accumulate throughout a person’s life.
Developing cancer is very complex; none of these factors alone will lead to cancer. A cell needs to
accumulate a certain amount of damage before it becomes a cancer cell.
Tumour: malignant and benign
Cancer cells from tumours can spread to other parts of the body and cause other tumours to grow.
When a person has a tumour, the doctor will do a biopsy (test) to see if it’s benign or malignant.
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Benign tumours:
• These are not cancerous.
• They can often be removed and mostly don’t return.
• Cells from these tumours do not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant tumours:
• These are cancerous.
• Cancer cells break away and are carried in the blood and lymph system. This leads to a second
tumour developing in another part of the body. When a tumour spreads to another part of the
body, it is more difficult to treat.
• Early detection is vital.
Treatment of cancer
Different cancers are treated in different ways. This may depend on:
• the type of cancer a person has
• their age and general health
• if the cancer has spread to other parts of their body
• if a person has previously received cancer treatment.
Cancer can be removed through surgery, by chemotherapy or by radiotherapy or by a combination
of these.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment using drugs to cure or control cancer. It may be given after
radiotherapy or surgery to completely remove any remaining cancer cells. It may also be given at
the same time as radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy targets fast-growing cancer cells and kills them to stop them spreading. The drugs
are carried in the bloodstream so they can reach cancer cells all over the body. The cancer cells
take up these drugs from the bloodstream and are destroyed.
Some normal cells, such as those in the lining of the mouth, the digestive system and hair follicles
may also take up these drugs and are damaged in the process. This can cause side effects, such
as hair loss, vomiting, etc. Damage to the normal cells is temporary and will disappear when
treatment is over.
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Radiotherapy
Radiation or X-rays can be used to kill cancer cells. At very low doses, X-rays can be used to give
a picture of the bones in your body; at high doses they can be used to treat cancer.
Radiotherapy aims to kill cancer cells with as little damage to healthy cells as possible.
Radiotherapy only affects the area being treated; chemotherapy affects the whole body. It is
usually used to treat small areas, solid tumours or to shrink larger tumours.
In remission
Following treatment, if the cancer does not return after a set period, the person is said to be in
remission.
Weblink
The Marie Keating foundation has an excellent resource on cancer. For more information go to
www.mariekeating.ie/cancer-information
Lesson: what is cancer?
The information above will help teachers conduct this lesson and answer any questions students
may ask. The information is set at a level suitable for explanation to students.
Objectives
It is likely that pupils in your class may already have been affected directly or indirectly by cancer
or may be cancer patients in the future. The aim of this lesson is to explain terms related to cancer
and to dispel any misunderstandings students may have.
Warm-up activity
Explain to students that in today’s lesson you are going to discuss cancer. Explain to them that it
is likely that everyone knows someone affected by cancer. Someone very close to some students
may have cancer or have suffered from cancer. (Allow for student input at this point.) Use the
following warm-up questions to find out what students already know about cancer.
• What is cancer?
• What are the different types of cancer?
• Who gets cancer?
• Is cancer treatable?
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Teacher input
In our daily lives, we hear many words related to cancer. We often don’t understand these words.
Ask students for examples of words they have heard that they do not fully understand. (Students
will probably come up with words such as chemotherapy, benign, melanoma, leukaemia.)
Explain to students that the aim of this lesson is to dispel any misunderstandings they have about
cancer.
Distribute the Cancer Quiz to students or call it out to them. Cancer Quiz
1. How does cancer develop?
a) From damaged cells multiplying out of control.
b) You can catch it in the air.
c) From one person to another.
2. How many types of cancer are there?
a) 20
b) 200
c) 2,000
3. Healthy people do not get cancer.
a) True
b) False
4. It is possible to inherit certain types of cancer.
a) True
b) False
5. Which type of tumour is not cancerous?
a) Benign tumour
b) Malignant tumour
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6. Cancer is usually a disease of:
a) Old age
b) Adolescence
c) Childhood
7. How cancer is treated depends on:
a) A person’s age
b) The degree to which the cancer has spread
c) The type of cancer
d) All of the above.
8. Chemotherapy is:
a) a treatment using drugs to cure and control cancer.
b) a high dosage of X-rays used to destroy cancer cells.
c) both of the above.
9. To have the best chance of survival from cancer, you should:
a) Check for lumps or any changes in your body.
b) Attend screenings regularly.
c) Inform your GP of any concerns you may have.
d) All of the above.
10.‘In remission’ means:
a) The cancer has returned.
b) The cancer is almost gone.
c) The cancer has not returned after treatment.
Answers:
1a 2b 3b 4a 5a 6a 7d 8a 9d 10c.
Go through each answer with the students. Discuss students’ answers and
clear up any misunderstandings.
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Group discussion
• Allow time for further questions.
• Ask the group to write down their own concerns on a piece of paper.
• Put these in a hat and draw them out to answer as a class. (Don’t worry if you don’t know the
answer; you can always find out for the next session.)
Background information: forms of cancer
Skin cancer
Non-melanoma skin cancer
This is the most common type of skin cancer and is very curable. This cancer arises from cells in
the base of the skin. It develops in areas exposed to the sun. Most non-melanoma cancers occur
on the face in both men and women. The leg is the most common site in women.
Signs to look for:
• a new lump, flat red spot or a sore that does not heal within four weeks
• a spot or sore that continues to itch, crust, scab or bleed
• an inflamed open sore that will not heal
• a dry scaly patch that will not heal.
Malignant melanoma
This is the most serious type of skin cancer, but it is also the rarest. If diagnosed early, there is
a good chance of cure. Melanoma usually starts on the surface of the skin in an existing mole or
freckle, but it can occur in normal-looking skin. In men, the most common site is on the ear or the
trunk, while in women the most common site is on the legs.
Warning signs to look out for – the A–E code:
• A – asymmetry, e.g. irregular shape of the mole or one half being different from the other
• B – irregular border or jagged edge
• C – colour variation (contains a mixture of colours)
• D – diameter greater than 6mm
• E – elevated or raised mole.
(Source: Adapted from www.rte.ie/tv/theafternoonshow/2008/0520/sunsmart597.html)
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Breast cancer
Breast cancer is currently the second most common female cancer, affecting over 1,700 women
each year. Early detection can lead to a full recovery. It is important to get into a habit of checking
your breasts. A good time to check your breasts is about one week after your period. You should
always consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
How to check your breasts
• Feel each breast in turn.
• Keeping your fingers together and flat, firmly move over the whole breast including the nipple
and armpit.
• Look at your breasts.
Consult your doctor if you notice the following:
• a lump of any size or thickening of the breast
• a change in size or shape
• changes in the colour of the nipple or an unusual discharge
• changes around the nipple: a rash, flaky or crusted skin
• a lump or swelling or constant pain in the armpit
• an ‘orange peel’ look about the skin.
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer can be treated successfully with early detection. It is most common among men
between the ages of fifteen and forty. It is important to contact your GP if you have any concerns.
Follow these guidelines to check your testicles regularly.
How to check your testicles
• Check your testicles regularly and know how they normally feel.
• Hold your testicles in your hands so you can feel their size and weight. They should be the
same weight, although it is normal for one to be a bit larger or higher than the other.
• Gently lift your testicles and check for unusual lumps, thickening or swelling.
• Look out for a dull ache in the lower abdomen or groin, or a sensation of heaviness in the
scrotum.
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Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is a cancer of the cells lining the cervix. This form of cancer develops over a
number of years, first as pre-cancerous cells, then cancerous cells. A cervical smear every two or
three years can detect pre-cancerous changes in the cervix which are completely curable. If left
untreated, the cells may progress to cancerous cells.
You can get a smear test at your GP, a family planning clinic or a maternity hospital.
Who can help?
Canteen is a society that provides help and support for young people affected with cancer.
It organises day-long activities each year for young people with cancer to prevent isolation and
to promote a positive attitude towards the illness. Canteen helps teenagers come to terms with
their diagnosis of cancer and enables teenagers to discuss any fears or anxieties they may have
about their illness. If you have any other concerns it’s best to talk to your guidance counsellor or a
parent. Website: www.irishcancer.ie/support/canteen.
The Irish Cancer Society has an extensive number of publications on different cancers and these
are available from the HSE. Their website – www.cancer.ie – is also well worth a visit. The Marie
Keating Foundation website – www.mariekeating.com – is another good source of information.
Students could research different forms of cancer from these sites.
Background information: cancer and lifestyle
(This information and the lesson that follows are adapted from www.cancerresearchuk.org.)
Scientists now believe that around 50 per cent of cancers are preventable through changes in
lifestyle, for example giving up smoking, being careful in the sun, getting plenty of exercise and
eating healthily.
Smoking and cancer
• Smoking causes cancer because some of the chemicals in cigarettes damage the DNA in our
cells, causing them to multiply out of control.
• The longer you smoke, the greater your chances of developing cancer.
• Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world. Nearly all cases of lung cancer are
caused by smoking.
• Smoking also increases your chances of developing many other types of cancer (e.g. mouth,
kidney, stomach) and conditions such as heart disease, stroke and lung disease.
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Sun and cancer
• Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland. Approximately 5,600 new cases of
cancer are diagnosed each year.
• The main cause is over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun from UVA and
UVB rays. UVB, the burning rays of the sun, are absorbed by the outer layer of the skin (the
epidermis), and cause sunburn and skin cancer. UVA has a longer wavelength radiation, which
reaches the dermis of the skin. It is responsible for ageing and skin cancer.
• UVR is strongest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The amount of heat in the sun has no bearing
on how strong its UV radiation is. So even if it’s cool but sunny you need to take extra care in
the middle of the day.
Sunbed dangers
A sunbed tan is produced by concentrated exposure to high levels of UV light. Twenty minutes on
a sunbed is the same as four hours in the sun. Sunbeds emit both UVA and UVB radiation and so
can lead to over-exposure and skin cancer. Sunbeds cause depletion in natural collagen and cause
premature ageing of the skin, shown by a lack of elasticity, sagging, wrinkling, freckling, yellow
discolouration and brown patches. Sunbeds are completely unsafe and are a health hazard.
Diet and cancer
Dietary factors are said to account for around 30 per cent of cancers in the developed world. There
is a belief that 30–40 per cent of cancers can be prevented by taking care over the foods we eat.
Being overweight can increase a person’s susceptibility to certain cancers such as cancer of the
bowel, kidney, oesophagus (food pipe) and womb. Consuming large quantities of alcohol is linked
to mouth, larynx (voice-box), liver, breast and oesophageal cancers.
A healthy lifestyle can reduce our chances of getting cancer in later life, but it is also important to
explain to students that there are no guarantees. Cancer can still happen to anyone and healthy
people develop cancer too. But by keeping healthy, we reduce the chances of this happening.
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Lesson plan: Cancer and lifestyle
Warm-up activity
Objective: to raise students’ awareness of the effect their lifestyle may have on their future health.
Materials:
• Two large sheets of paper – one with Yes/True on it and the other with No/False on it.
• Large sheets of paper.
• Colours.
• Glue.
• Magazines with pictures of people taking exercise, eating and drinking, drinking alcohol,
smoking cigarettes, etc.
• Copies of various health pamphlets from the Health Promotion Unit.
Procedure:
• Put the Yes/True and No/False sheets up on the wall at opposite sides of the room.
• Ask the questions below.
• Tell the students that after each question they must decide on their response and move to the
appropriate side of the room. They can stand in the middle of the room if they are uncertain.
• Between questions ask students to explain the reasons behind their decisions.
The questions:
• Thinking about your lifestyle:
– Do you sunbathe?
– Have you ever smoked?
– Do you eat fruit and vegetables?
– Do you eat fast food or takeaways more than once a week?
– Do you exercise more than once a week?
• True or false?
– Getting older increases your risk of cancer.
– Cell damage leads to cancer.
– Being physically inactive can increase your chances of cancer.
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– Getting sunburned increases your chances of getting cancer.
– Most cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking.
(All of these statements are true.)
Using the background information notes, talk to the students about the link between lifestyle and
cancer.
Student campaign
• Divide students into groups.
• Tell the students that they are going to lead a health campaign aimed at their fellow students.
The campaign will not just inform students about cancer but also encourage them to adopt a
healthy lifestyle to reduce their risk of cancer. Explain that government organisations, such as
the HSE, and charities, such as the Irish Heart Foundation and the Marie Keating Foundation,
use campaigns in the mass media to raise awareness about health issues.
• Ask students about any campaigns they have seen on TV, or in newspapers and magazines.
Give examples, e.g. the Nico anti-smoking campaign (‘There’s nothing sexy about smoking’),
the Drinkaware ‘Had enough’ campaign, etc.
• Each group will pick one topic from the list below:
– Be Sunsmart
– Eat and Drink Healthily
– Stay in Shape
– Quit Smoking
– Drink in Moderation.
• Give each group a large piece of paper and tell the students to divide it into three sections with
the following headings: ‘Campaign Slogan’, ‘Key Messages’ and ‘Campaign Method’.
–A campaign slogan might be something like ‘Every cigarette counts’.
– Key messages could be things like ‘Stay in shape’ or ‘Early diagnosis and screening’.
– Campaigning methods: Students choose the style of the campaign, the target audience
and the medium they will use (television advertisements or talk shows, posters, billboards,
websites, leaflets, brochures, etc.). Students must decide on the visuals and artworks they
will use to promote the campaign.
When judging the campaign poster, consider how well each team has completed the different
sections of the poster. Remember, the team should have suggested some practical ways of
motivating people to reduce their risk as well as providing information.
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Variation
Students in pairs choose one lifestyle factor that increases the risk of cancer. Their task is to
create a billboard that warns their fellow students about how this factor increases the risk of
cancer, and also encourages them to make practical steps towards a healthier lifestyle.
2. eating disorders
This section gives teachers background information on eating disorders, which will help them
to answer any questions students might ask. Lesson plans are also included. The following
information is adapted from the Bodywhys information pack on eating disorders.
What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are a condition related to severe disturbances in eating. They can be seen as
symptoms of emotional distress or a way of coping with unmanageable feelings. They have
emotional, physical and psychological consequences and can have life-threatening consequences.
Because the behaviour of a person is centred around food and eating, eating disorders are
mistakenly seen as a problem about food, but the behaviour around eating is an outward sign of
emotional distress. The main eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and bingeeating disorder.
What causes eating disorders?
There is no single reason why a person develops an eating disorder. Many factors can impact on
whether a person develops an eating disorder, for example:
• low self-worth
• feelings of inadequacy and lack of control
• depression and feelings of anxiety
• a traumatic event in a person’s life now or in the past, e.g. death of a loved one, abuse,
bullying, critical comments about a person’s shape or size
• stress
• over-concern with meeting others’ expectations
• a society that promotes thinness as a means of achieving happiness and success
• cultural obsession with physical appearance
• dieting
• troubled family life
• troubled personal relationships.
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