Cancer Flashcards
What is Cancer?
Group of diseases that result in UNCONTROLLABLE cell division, this forms a tumor
Whats a tumor?
Lump of cells that divide without purpose
2 types of tumors and what they do?
- Benign: Non-cancerous, tumor that does not affect surrounding cells
- Malignant: Cancerous, Tumor affects normal cells surrounding
Metastasis
Cancer cells break away from primary tumor and travel to another part of body forming secondary tumors through the circulatory system.
Carcinogen
Substances that increase risk of cancer, Eg: Alc, coffee, tobacco
4 types of cancer?
Carcinoma, Sarcoma, Lymphoma, Leukemia
Carcinoma
Most common form, occurs in epithelial tissue
Sarcoma
Occurs in connective and muscular tissue
Lymphoma
Occurs in lymph nodes, affects immune system
Leukemia
Occurs in immature blood cells that multiply in number in blood stream
What happends to cells to form tumors?
DNA controls all cellular functions, including cell division.
If there is mutations it affects the cell cycle and can cause cells to uncontrollably divide.
Mutation
Change in DNA
Causes of cancer
- Genetics
- environmental factors; tobacco, smoke, chemicals
4 treatments?
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery
- Immunotherapy
Chemotherapy
Uses powerful drugs to kill cells that are rapidly dividing, affects healthy and cancerous cells
