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Cancer
© Lisa Michalek
What is Cancer?
• An uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal
cells
• A tumor is a mass of cells that grows more rapidly
than surrounding tissue
– Malignant – very dangerous and harmful
– Benign – Harmless, non-cancerous
• Metastasis – the process
where cancer spreads
from one area of the
body to a different
area of the body
What Causes Cancer?
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Smoking
Obesity
A few viruses
Chemicals
Radiation
Hormones
Immune conditions
Inherited genetic mutations
Cellular Change & Mutation Theories
• One theory is that cancer results from an
error that happens during cell
reproduction
• Another theory is that cancer is caused by
some external agent that enters a normal
cell and initiates changes
– Carcinogens include radiation, chemicals,
hormonal drugs, toxins, smoking
• A third theory includes the research that
certain viruses are believed to cause
tumors in animals.
Lifestyle Cancer Risks
• Smoking can cause cancer of the lung,
pancreas, bladder and kidney, larynx,
mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach,
liver, and cervix
• Cancer is more common in
people who are overweight
and lead a sedentary lifestyle
– Including postmenopausal
breast cancer, endometrium,
gallbladder, kidney, cervix,
ovaries, colon, and prostate
Biological Cancer Risks
• Cancers of the breast, stomach, colon,
prostate, uterus, ovaries, and lungs
appear to run in families
• Hodgkin’s disease and certain
leukemias also run in families
• Gender also affects
certain cancers
– Breast cancer usually
occurs in females
Environmental Cancer Risks
• Asbestos, Nickel, chromate, benzene,
arsenic, vinyl chloride, radioactive
substances, radon exposures, coal tars,
herbicides, and pesticides have been
shown to be carcinogens for humans
Viral Cancer Risks
• Cervical cancer has been
linked to the human papilloma virus,
the virus that causes genital warts
• The Epstein-Barr virus, which is
associated with mononucleosis, may
contribute to cancer
• The herpes-related viruses may be
involved in the development of some
forms of leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease,
cervical cancer and Burkitt’s lymphoma
Types of Cancers
• Carcinoma
– Most common sites for cancer
– Found in tissues that cover the body surfaces
and linings most
body cavities and
form solid tumors
• Examples include:
Breast, lung,
intestines, skin,
and mouth
Types of Cancers
• Sarcoma
– These cancers are
less common, but
are usually more
dangerous. They
also form solid tumors
– They occur in the
middle layers of tissues
• Examples include:
bone, muscles, and
connective tissues
Types of Cancers
• Lymphoma
– Develops in the lymphatic system
(the infection fighting regions of the body)
and forms solid tumors
• An example
includes
Hodgkin’s disease
Types of Cancers
• Leukemia
– Cancer of the bloodforming parts of the body
– Usually the bone marrow
and spleen that form
non-solid tumors
– Characterized by an
abnormal increase in the
number of white blood cells
Lung Cancer
• Symptoms include a persistent cough, bloodstreaked sputum, chest pain, and recurrent
attacks of pneumonia or bronchitis
• Treatment includes
surgery, radiation
and chemotherapy
• Risks include
tobacco use,
exposure to
tobacco smoke,
arsenic, asbestos
or radiation
Breast Cancer
• The earliest sings are observable on
mammograms, usually before lumps
can be felt.
• Once it has grown to where it can be
felt, symptoms include lump,
thickening, swelling, dimpling, skin
irritation, distortion, retraction of the
nipple, nipple discharge, pain or
tenderness
• Treatments range from lumpectomy to
radical mastectomy and various
combinations of radiation or
chemotherapy
• Risk factors include family history,
long menstrual history, obesity after
menopause, oral contraceptives,
never having children
Breast Self Exam
Colon and Rectum Cancers
• Symptoms include bleeding from the rectum,
blood in the stool and changes in bowel habits
• Colonoscopy or barium enemas are
recommended tests for at-risk populations and
people over 50
• Treatments include surgery, radiation and
possible chemotherapy
• Risk factors include people who are over 40,
obese, have a family history of these cancers
and or polyps, inflammatory bowel problems,
diets high in fats or low in fiber, smoking, high
alcohol consumption, and inactivity
Colon and Rectum Cancers
Prostate Cancer
• A PSA blood test and rectal
examination can be used to
screen males without symptoms
• Most signs of cancer mimic
the signs of an infection or
enlarged prostate
• Symptoms include weak or
interrupted urine flow, difficulty
starting or stopping urine, the
need to urinate frequently, pain
in lower back, pelvis, or upper
thighs, blood in urine
• Risk factors increase with age,
being African-American, and
family history
Skin Cancer
• Melanomas of the skin are most
common on the face, ears, neck,
arms, hands and legs
• They usually appear as warty bumps,
colored spots or scaly patches with
asymmetry, and border irregularity
and variations in color
• Risks include radiation from the sun
and tanning lamps
• Surgery is used with possible
radiation or chemotherapy
Testicular Cancer
• Males between the ages of 17 and 34
with undescended testicles are at the
greatest risk
• Symptoms include a painless
enlargement of the testis or thickening
in the testicular tissue
Testicular
Self Exam
Ovarian Cancer
• Most common symptoms include
enlargement of the abdomen in women
over 40, gas, stomachaches that cannot be
explained
• Risk factors
include exposure
to estrogen
and family history
Uterine Cancer
• Early warning signs include bleeding outside of
normal menstrual periods or after menopause or
unusual vaginal discharge
• Risk factors include early age of first intercourse,
multiple sex partners,
cigarette smoking,
certain STD’s,
a family history,
a history of infertility,
failure to ovulate,
obesity, and
estrogen therapy
Leukemia
• Cancer of the blood-forming tissues that leads to
millions of immature white blood cells
• These abnormal cells crowd out normal blood cells
• Symptoms include
fatigue, paleness,
weight loss, easy
bruising, repeated
infections,
nosebleeds
and other
hemorrhaging
Detecting Cancer
• Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI)
– A device that uses magnetic
fields, radio waves and
computers to generate an
image of internal tissue of
the body without the use of
radiation
• Computerized Axial
Tomography (CAT scan)
– A machine that uses radiation
to view internal organs not
normally visible on x-rays
Cancer Treatments
• Surgery
– The tumor and surrounding
tissue is removed
• Radiotherapy
– The use of radiation to kill
cancerous cells
– Used to treat localized cancer
cells, but also destroys some
healthy cells
• Chemotherapy
– The use of drugs to kill
cancerous cells
– Used to treat cancers that have
spread throughout the body