Cancer

Question 1

What’s Cancer

Answer 1

• Cancer (neoplasm, tumor, or malignancy) is not a
single disease; rather, it is a group of diseases
characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread
of abnormal cells.
• Often, cancer cells are described as poorly differentiated or immature.
• Other characteristics of cancer cells include their
ability to invade adjacent normal tissues and
break away from the primary tumor
(metastasize) and travel through the blood or
lymph to establish new tumors (metastases) at a
distant site.

Question 2

The first step in this process is

Answer 2

initiation, which requires exposure of normal cells to carcinogenic substances.

Question 3

During the second phase,

Answer 3

known as promotion,
carcinogens or other factors alter the environment to
favor growth of the mutated cell population over
normal cells.

Question 4

Mid stage-

Answer 4

At some point, however, the mutated cell becomes

cancerous (conversion or transformation).

Question 5

The final stage-

Answer 5

neoplastic growth, called progression, involves further genetic changes leading to increased cell proliferation.

Question 6

What are Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes

Answer 6

provide the

stimulatory and inhibitory signals that ultimately regulate the cell cycle.

Question 7

The secondary defenses include

Answer 7

apoptosis (programmed

cell death or suicide) and cellular senescence (aging).

Question 8

Carcinomas

Answer 8

are malignant growths arising

from epithelial cells..

Question 9

Sarcomas are

Answer 9

• Malignant growths of muscle or connective

tissue

Question 10

• An adenocarcinoma is

Answer 10

a malignant tumor arising from glandular tissue.

Question 11

Cancer’s sEVEN wARNING sIGNS

Diagnosis

Answer 11

Change in bowel or bladder habits
a sore that does not heal 
Unusual bleeding or discharge 
Thickening or lump in breast 
Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing 
obvious change in wart or mole 
Nagging cough or hoarseness

Question 12

Cancer’s Warning Sign in Children

Answer 12

Unexplained weight loss
Headaches with vomiting in morning 
Increased swelling in joints 
Lump in abdomen, neck
Development of whitish appearance in eye 
Recurrent fevers not caused by infections
Excessive bruising, bleeding
Noticeable pale skin or tiredness

Question 13

Four primary modalities are employed in the

approach to cancer treatment:

Answer 13

surgery, radiation,

chemotherapy, and biologic therapy.

Question 14

The treatment of choice for most

solid tumors diagnosed in the early stages.

Answer 14

Surgery

Question 15

What is a good example of the use

of a combined-modality approach.

Answer 15

• Early stage breast cancer

Question 16

The steps to remove tumor

Answer 16

The primary tumor is removed surgically, and radiation
therapy is delivered to the remaining breast (after
lumpectomy) or to the axilla (if there is marked lymph
node involvement).

Question 17

Whats done after Surgery?

Answer 17

Adjuvant therapy (chemotherapy, targeted therapy,
and/or hormonal therapy) is then administered to
eradicate any micrometastatic disease.