Download Cancer: large group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled

Cancer: large group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth + spread of abnormal
cells.
- 2nd leading cause of death for Americans of all age groups
neoplasm: a new growth of tissue serving no physiological function that occurs when
something interrupts normal cell programming.
- often forms a tumor: clumping of cells
Tumors can be:
malignant- cancerous, dangerous
benign- non-cancerous, harmless
biopsy- microscopic examination of tissue to determine whether a cancer is present.
metastasis: process by which cancer spreads from one area to different areas of the body
mutant cells: cells that differ in form, quality, or function from normal cells
- can be produced by disrupting RNA or DNA
-Women aged 60 and older face high risk of breast cancer (1 in 27). Men can also get breast
cancer.
Cellular Change/Mutation Theories
- cancer results from spontaneous errors during cell reproduction.
-cancer caused by external agent(s) that enter a normal cell and initiate cancerous process.
-environmental factors: radiation, chemicals, hormonal drugs, immunosuppressant drugs
(suppress normal immune system activity), toxins.
carcinogens: cancer-causing agents
-cigarettes most common one
oncogenes: suspected cancer-causing genes . usually dormant but conditions such as age,
stress, exposure to carcinogens may activate them.
Lifetime risk: probability that an individual over the course of a lifetime will develop cancer or die
from it.
- 76% of cancers diagnosed at ages 55+.
Relative risk: measure of strength of relationship between risk factors and a cancer.
Lifestyle affects risk of cancer.
-diet, physical activity, tobacco use, dietary choices.
-Cancer more common among overweight people; risk increases as obesity increases.
Genetic factors: higher risk of cancer if it runs in the family.
-3 or more generations diagnosed w/ similar cancers
- 3 or more cancers on the same side of family
- family members diagnosed with cancer at a younger age than usual
Reproductive/Hormonal Risks:
-late menarche(first period), early menopause,early first childbirth, high parity(lots of children)
reduce risk of breast cancer.
-estrogen supplementation (oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy) increase risk.
Environemtal factors:
-working in construction and exposed to chemicals such as benzene, arsenic, vinyl chloride,
certain dyes, herbicides, pesticides
Radiation:
- IR (ionizing radiation) from X rays, radon, cosmic rays, UV rays
Chemicals in food:
- sodium nitrate (nitrosamines is the carcinogen in it), herbicides, pesticides.
Infectious diseases and cancer:
-Hepatitis B, C,are linked with liver cancer b/c they stimulate growth of cancer cells due to
inflammation and cause cirrhosis (scarring of liver)
- HPV (human papillomavirus) linked with cervical cancer.
Types of cancer
Carcinomas: epithelial tissues (covering surfaces and body cavities). affect outer layer of skin,
mouth, mucous membranes.
-metastasize through circulatory or lymphatic system
Sarcomas: occur in the mesodermal (middle layers of tissue)--> bones, muscle.
-metastasize in blood, ore virulent than carcinomas
Lymphomas: develop in the lymphatic system (infection fighting regions).
-ex.Hodgkin’s disease
Leukemias: cancer of the blood-forming parts of body (spleen, bone marrow)
- different from others b/c nonsolid tumor (increase in white blood cells)
Lung Cancer:
-leading cause of cancer death for men and women in U.S.
Prevention: don’t smoke, avoid exposure to second hand smoke.
Breast Cancer:
-detected by mammograms
-BSE (breast self examination)
Symptoms: lump in the breast, thickening, dimpling, skin irritation, etc
Risk factors: age, early menstrual periods + late menopause, oral contraceptives, never having
children, >2 drinks of alcohol daily, etc.
Colon + Rectal Cancers: 3rd most common cancer in men and women
Risk factors: age 50+, obesity, family history of polyps (benign growths), smoking, diets high in
fat, low intake of fruits + vegetables
Symptoms + Treatment: bleeding from rectum, in stool, changes in bowel habits.
-Colonoscopy are recommended screening tests
Prevention: regular exercise, balanced diet, healthy weight, low alcohol consumption
Skin Cancer:
malignant melanoma- deadliest form of skin cancer, occur at higher rate in women aged 40+
- a virulent cancer of the melanocytes (pigment producing cells) of the skin
Higher risk for people with: fair skin, light hair/eyes, burn easily, family history, don’t use
sunscreen
-African Americans have highest risk
Prostate cancer:
-most common cancer in American mend, except skin cancer. 2nd leading cause of cancer
death after lung cancer.
-difficulty urinating, frequent urination
Risk factors: age (65+), race (african american men more likely than white, family history, diet
(high in fat), physical inactivity, obesity, vasectomy.
-eat more fruits and vegetables
Ovarian Cancer: 5th leading cause of cancer death in women
-enlargement of abdomen, weight loss, change in bowel habbits
Risk factors: family history, never been pregnant, fertility drugs, genetics.
Cervical + Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer
-Pap test- cells taken from cervical region are examined for abnormal cellular activity. effective
in early stages of cervical, not uterine cancer.
Risk factors for cervical: early age at first intercourse, smoking, STDs, HPV, herpesvirus.
Risk factors for endometrial: age, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, history
Testicular Cancer: greatest risk for ages 15 an 35.
-men with undescended testicles at greatest risk, geneticsalso play a part.
- enlargement of testes, thickening of tissue
-TSE (testicular self examination)
Pancreatic Cancer: 4th leading cause of cancer death in both men and women
-Risks: chronic inflammation of pancreas, obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, high-fat diet,
smoking
Leukemia: immature white blood cells crowd out normals ones that fight infection, platelets, and
red blood cells.
- fatigue, paleness, weight loss, bruising, etc
-acute or chronic
What to look out for:
C change in bowel or bladder habits
A A sore that does not heal
U unusual bleeding or discharge
T thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere
I Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
O obvious change in wart/mole
N nagging cough or hoarseness
Detecting Cancer:
-Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) - electromagnet that detects tumors by mapping
vibrations of atoms
-Computed tomography scan (CT scan)- uses xrays to examine body
Treatments:
-radiotherapy -use of radiation
-chemotherapy - use of drugs to kill cancerous cells
3 Top Treatments: radiation, surgery, chemotherapy
Excluding lung cancer, #1 cancer in women is breast cancer, #1 in men: prostate cancer.
protocol- individual plan of treatment by doctor
Biopsy- for definitive diagnosis, look at cells under microscope.
Prognosis- prediction, assessment made by doctor for growth of cancer, expectations. this is
made before protocol.