Cancer Flashcards
Cancer: Biology
irregular uncontrollable multiplication of cells due to genetic mutation in the cell cycle
abnormal cells make more abnormal cells
Stages of Tumour Development
- Hyperplasia
- Dyplasia
- Situ Cancer
- Localized Invasive Cancer
- Metastais
Hyperplasia
Altered cells divide abnormally compared to others which may lead to new mutations and even more cell proliferation
Dysplasia
cells mutate more into abnormal shape and may develop into cancer
Situ Cancer
Affected cells mutate more (shape & size) and may stay localized or move somewhere else
Localized Invasive Cancer
Abnormal cells can invade nearby tissue and affect the organs’ function, but they cannot spread beyond the boundaries of the organ of origin.
Metastasis
Tumor can shed malignant cells into blood or lymphatic vessels carrying to distant site to produce secondary tumors
Causes of Cancer
Carcinogens
Radiation
Pathogens
How Cancer Impacts the Body
Blocks blood vessels, compromise nerves, or affects bodily functions
Blood Cancer
leukemia
no tumours but abnormal reproduction rates
Advanced Tumours
saps bloody supply, nutrients, and energy from healthy cells
Top 3 Cancers for Females
- Breast
- Lungi, Bronchi
- Colorectal
Top 3 Cancers for Males
- Prostrate
- Colorectal
- Lung, Bronchi
Skin Cancer
mostly carcinomas
slow growth and easy treatment
Malignant Melanoma: Risk Factors and Prevention
Risk Factors: fair skin and hair; light eyes, freckles and sunburns; childhood sunburns or intense sun exposure; history; large # of moles
Prevention: sunscreen if even cloudy
What is the survival rate of Breast Cancer if caught early?
80%
Breast Cancer: Risk Factors, Prevention, & Treatment
Risk Factors: age, genetics, age at onset of menstruation (lifetime exposure to estrogen)
Prevention: mammogram screening
Treatment: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy
How does breast cancer develop?
lymph nodes near breast metastasize
Breast Cancer: Surgical Removal
for localized cancer
tumour and adjacent lymph nodes are removed (eg lumpectomy, mastectomy)
Lung Cancer: Risk Factors & 5-Year Survival Rate
RF: smoking (#1), 2nd-hand smoking (#2), asbestos, pollution,
5-Year Survival Rate: no effective screening, symptoms appear late, difficult treatment
Risk of lung cancer for non-smokers?
5-10%
Prostrate
A walnut-sized gland near the gall bladder that secretes fluid part of semen
Prostrate Cancer Statistics
Deadly if spread, but 95% survival rate if detected early
Prostrate Cancer: Symptoms, Risk Factors,
S: None (most times), sometimes changes in urinary frequency
RF: age, obesity, physical inactivity, STI history, diets w/ excess animal fats, low plant matter
Prostrate Cancer: Prevention & Screening
Prevention: regular screening (Digital Rectal Exam or Prostrate-Specific Antigen Test)
Treatment: surgery to remove prostate, radiation, cryotherapy, drugs
Colorectal Cancer: Risk Factors & Symptoms
RF: age, male, inflammatory, bowel disease & family history, obesity, smoking, alcohol abuse, real/ processed meats
Symptoms: change in bowel movements, pain/ tenderness in the abdomen, blood in feces
Colorectal Cancer: Screening
colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, fecal blood screening (age >50)
sigmoidoscopy
a diagnostic test on the sigmoid colon to check for diarrhea or belly pain
Fecal Blood Screening
help find colon cancer before symptoms form
colonoscopy
check inside of the entire colon (large intestine) using the camera
Polyps
a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon that may grow into cancerous cells
Cervical Cancer: RF, Screening, Prevention
RF: HPV
Screening: regular PAP tests to detect pre-cancerous lesions if sexually active
Prevention: HPV vaccines
Screening
general examinations on “apparently” healthy populations to see who might have a disease
Testing
specific tests for those believed to have disease to improve identification method
Chemotherapy
Uses drugs to kill cancer cells (for cancer) to target rapidly dividing cells
Can also adversely target other normal cells (eg hair follicles, and linings causing nausea and fatigue)
Biopsy
removes and analyzes tissue
more invasive, time-consuming, and costly
Radiation Therapy
Beams focused from several directions in high doses to kill tumour cells
Combined with chemo, for benign cancer
S: damage DNA, kill healthy cells
Immunotherapy
stimulating the immune system with drugs to increase antibodies, t-cells
example: HPV or infectious disease vaccines
Treatment: good against prostrate
Gene Therapy
modify genetic material of cancer and immune cells
Hormone Therapy
drugs blocking hormone receptors or lower hormone levels (eg estrogen)
Cancer Prevention: Environment
*0% caused by environmental factors such as smoking, carcinogen exposure, diet, not screening
