Cancer Flashcards
4 Different grades and stages of cancer
- cells differ from normal cells = carcinoma in situ
- cells abnormal = tumor limited of tissue of origin
- cells very abnormal = limited local spread
- cells immature, cell orgin is difficult = local and regional spread
benign cancer characteristics
o Distinguished early as benign
o Usually encapsulated
o Cells well differentiated
o Slow growing
o Grow by expansion
o Tend to not metastasize (move)
Malignant (affect whole body) characteristics
o Cells poorly differentiated
o Infiltrates and destroys surrounding tissues
o Growth rate variable
o Metastasizes via lymphatics/blood
o Generalized effects (anemia, weakness, weight loss)
o Usually cause death unless growth is controlled
things that cause cancer
- chemicals = smoking, alcohol
- ultraviolet, radiation
- bacterial/virsus infection
- hormone inbalance
- immunde system dysfunction
symptoms of cancer
o metabolic changes
o cachexia (fat/muscle loss)
o endocrine effects (hormone abnormalities)
o sores/wounds that don’t heal
o indigestion, hoarseness
o lump in breast
o unusual bleeding.
diagnosis of cancer
o mammogram
o smear
o rectal exam
o colonoscopy
o skin inspection
o biopsy
o tumor markers
what is chemotherapy
drug therapy using ‘cytotoxic’ drugs that affect all rapidly dividing cells in the body.
side effects of chemotherapy
o nausea
o vomiting
o diarrhea
o loss of appetite
o hair loss
o fatigue
What is radiotherpay
o destroys cancer cells with minimal exposure to normal cells
o effective only for tissue in direct path of radiation beam
Side effects of radiotherapy
o redness
o desquamation of irritated skin (loss of upper layer of skin)
o hair loss
o nausea
o vomiting
o fatigue
risks for developing breast cancer
o female
o >50
o 1st degree relative with history
o Menopause
o Smoking
o alcohol consumption
o high fat diet
breastcancer screening
o mammogram (low dose x-ray that can pick up small cancers before a lump is formed)
o from age 45 and over every two years.
symptoms of breast cancer
o lumps
o thickened tissue
o changes in nipple.