4.2.2.7 Cancer Flashcards
Cancer:
the result of changes in cells that lead to uncontrolled growth an division
Lifestyle risk factors for cancer:
- smoking (lung, mouth, bowel, stomach and cervical cancer)
- obesity (bowel, liver and kidney cancer)
- no exercise
- exposure to carcinogens
- UV light/radiation (skin cancer)
- poor diet
- viral infection (liver cancer from hepatitis B and C, cervical cancer from HPV)
- alcohol
Genetic risk factors for cancer:
- you can inherit certain genes which increase the likelihood of getting cancer
Benign tumours:
- caused by uncontrolled cell division
- growths of abnormal cells which are contained in one area usually within a membrane, they do not invade other parts of the body (other tissues)
- not cancerous
- grows until there is no more room
- if it causes pressure or damage to an organ it can be dangerous
Malignant tumours:
- caused by uncontrolled cell divison
- malignant tumour cells are cancers, they invade neighbouring tissues and spread to different parts of the body via the blood (circulatory system) where they form secondary tumours
- cancerous
- the tumour may split up, resulting in cells being carried in the bloodstream or lymphatic system
- cancer cells divide more rapidly and have a longer life span in comparison to normal cells
Metastasis:
the spreading of a disease (e.g. cancer) to other parts of the body by metastasis
What do different types of cancer have?
- different types of cancer can have different causes and be treated ind different ways
- we’re still better at treating some types of cancer than others - but we’re making good progress
How has cancer survival in the UK changed?
cancer survival has doubled in the last 40 yrs in the UK
In 2011 how many people in the UK were diagnosed with cancer?
331,500 people
How many people in their lifetime will develop some form of cancer?
more than1 in 3 people will develops some form of cancer during their lifetime
What are the two types of skin cancer?
- melanoma
- non-melanoma
Non-melanoma skin cancer:
refers to a group of cancers that slowly develop in the upper layers of the skin
Melanoma skin cancer:
type of skin cancer that can spread to other organs in the body
Risk factors for skin cancer:
- exposure to the sun’s rays/UV radiation
- using sun-beds
- fair skin
- red hair
- age
- family history
- other skin conditions
- sunburn
- moles and freckles
Prevention methods for skin cancer:
- wear high factor sun cream
- stay out of the sun in the heat of the day
- don’t use sun-beds
- wear a hat and sunglasses
How common is skin cancer?
one of the most common skin cancers in the world
What is cervical cancer and where does affect?
cervical cancer is a type of cancer that develops in a woman’s cervix (the entrance to the womb from the vagina)
What are most cases of cervical cancer caused by?
HPV (human papilloma virus)
What is HPV and how can it be transmitted?
- very common virus
- can be transmitted through any type of sexual contact with a man or a woman
How many types of HPV are there and what can they do?
- 100+ types of HPV many of which are harmless
- some types of HPV can cause abnormal changes to the cells of the cervix, which can eventually lead to cervical cancer
Risk factors for cervical cancer:
- HPV virus
- smoking
- STI’s e.g. chlamydia
- being overweight
- long term use of oral contraceptives
- family history
- having multiple pregnancies
Prevention methods for cervical cancer:
- using condoms during sexual intercourse
- HPV vaccinations (now given in schools)
- NHS carries out routine smear tests for women over age of 25
- don’t smoke
What are the two types of lung cancer?
- small cell lung cancer
- non-small cell lung cancer
Small cell lung cancer:
- when the cancer cells are looked at under a microscope they are very small
- small cell lung cancer is usually caused by smoking and its rare for someone who has never smoked to develop this type of lung cancer
- small cell lung cancer is often fast-growing and can spread quickly
Non-small cell lung cancer:
- 3 main types of non-small cell lung cancer
- the cancer cells appears bigger under the microscope
Risk factors for lung cancer:
- biggest cause pf lung cancer is smoking (causes more than 8 out of (86%) of lung cancer cases) inc. a small proportion caused by exposure to second hand smoke in non smokers (passive smoking)
- other causes include: air pollution, exposure to radon gas, previous lung disease, family history
Prevention methods for lung cancer:
- don’t smoke/stay away from people who are smoking
- maintain a healthy diet
- exercise regularly
How common is lung cancer?
2nd most common cancer in the UK (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer)
How many people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year in the UK?
43,500
How many different types of breast cancer are there?
- several different types of breast cancer, which can develop in different parts of the breast - can occur in both males and females
- often divided into invasive and non-invasive types
Non-invasive breast cancer:
this cancer is found in the ducts of the breast and hasn’t developed the ability to spread outside the breast
Invasive breast cancer:
invasive cancer has ability to spread outside the breast, although this doesn’t necessarily mean it has spread
Risk factors for breast cancer:
- age
- women are at a greater risk than men
- inherited genes
- race and ethnicity (white women have higher risk)
Prevention methods for breast cancer:
- breast cancer screening for those over the age of 45 - use of a mammogram
- regular exercise and healthy diet
- breastfeeding can reduce your risk
How common is breast cancer in the UK?
most common type of cancer in the UK
What is testicular cancer and who does it affect?
- cancer of the testicles aka testicular cancer
- one of the less common cancers
- usually affects younger men between the ages of 15-49
Risk factors for testicular cancer:
- men born with abnormal testicles
- middle aged men
- race (more common in white men)
- family history
- tall men are more at risk
- smoking
- infertility
- STIs e.g. HIV
Prevention methods for testicular cancer:
- safe sex (use condoms)
- don’t smoke
- get regularly checked at the GP
- (testicular cancer is difficult to prevent)
What are brain tumours?
a brain tumour is a growth pf cells in the brain that multiplies in an abnormal uncontrolled way - can either be malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous)
How are brain tumours graded?
brain tumours are graded from 1-4 according to their behaviour e.g. how fast they grow and how likely they re to grow back after treatment
Risk factors for brain tumours:
- age
- medical radiation
- previous cancers
- genetic history
- being overweight
- smoking
- alcohol
Prevention methods for brain tumours:
- don’t drink alcohol or smoke
- healthy diet and exercise
- if you show any symptoms of having a brain tumour go to a GP to be checked ASAP e.g. persistent headaches, drowsiness, vomiting, problems with vision, seizures etc.
What causes cancer?
- our genes pick up mutations when cells divide
- mutations can happen through our lives during natural processes to our cells or because of environmental factors e.g.: tobacco smoke, high energy radiation, UV radiation from Sun, some substances in food, chemicals in our environment
How does cancer develop?
- cancer starts when cells change abnormally
- cancer is when abnormal cells divide in an uncontrolled way - some cancers eventually spread into other tissues
- cells don’t specialise so become a growth of undifferentiated cells
How does cancer grow to become larger?
- cancer grows as cells multiply over time
- benign tumours: growths of abnormal cells which are contained in one area, usually within a membrane - can’t invade other parts of the body
How does cancer spread to other parts of the body?
- via blood / circulatory system
- malignant tumour cells - cancer that spread to other parts of body
- a primary tumour is name for where cancer starts
- cancer can sometimes spread to other parts of body - caused by secondary ticket or metastasis
- cancer and its treatment cab affect body systems such as blood circulation, lymphatic and immune systems, and the hormone system
Radiotherapy:
treatment used for some forms of cancer through using ionising radiation
Chemotherapy:
a form of treatment that is used in the control of cancers
Biopsy:
when doctors take a sample of cells they think may be cancerous and look at them under a microscope
Carcinogen:
a chemical that causes cancer
How does the Sun emit UV radiation?
- emits UV radiation in the form of rays
