Cancer Flashcards
What is cancer, and what causes its uncontrolled cell growth?
Answer: Cancer is a disease where cells undergo a mutation in their DNA, preventing them from staying in interphase long enough and causing uncontrolled cell division (uncontrolled proliferation).
What is the origin of the word “cancer”?
a) Onkos
b) Carcinoma
c) Leukos
d) Sarcoma
Answer: b) Carcinoma
How do cancer cells behave differently from normal cells?
Answer: Cancer cells divide uncontrollably, form tumours, invade nearby tissues, spread (metastasize), and often lose their normal organization and function.
What are the two main characteristics of cancer cells?
Answer: Anaplasia (constant changes as they divide and loss of organization) and autonomy (acting independently of normal cell control).
What are the two major types of tumours?
Answer: Benign tumours (non-cancerous) and malignant tumours (cancerous).
Which type of tumour does not spread to other parts of the body?
a) Malignant
b) Carcinogenic
c) Benign
d) Leukemic
Answer: c) Benign
What are the characteristics of benign tumours?
Answer: They are mostly harmless, non-cancerous, do not spread (no metastasis), but can crowd surrounding tissues, causing discomfort or requiring surgery.
What makes malignant tumours dangerous?
Answer: Malignant tumours interfere with normal tissue function, spread through metastasis, and often require immediate treatment.
How do malignant tumours spread throughout the body?
Answer: Through metastasis, where cancer cells break away, enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and form new tumours elsewhere.
What is angiogenesis, and why is it important for tumour growth?
Answer: Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels, which supply tumours with oxygen and nutrients, helping them grow and spread.
What are the most commonly diagnosed cancers in males?
Answer: Prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.
What are the most commonly diagnosed cancers in females?
Answer: Breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.
What is the most commonly diagnosed cancer overall?
a) Breast cancer
b) Prostate cancer
c) Lung cancer
d) Skin cancer
Answer: c) Lung cancer
Why is lung cancer the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide?
Answer: Because smoking is widespread, and tumours from other parts of the body often metastasize to the lungs first.
What is the five-year survival rate for cancer patients in the U.S.?
a) 40%
b) 50%
c) 60%
d) 70%
Answer: c) 60%
What are three major factors that increase the risk of developing cancer?
Answer:
1. Exposure to carcinogens (e.g., radiation, tobacco, pollution).
2. Genetic mutations (inherited or acquired).
3. Weakened immune system (due to immunodeficiency or viruses like HPV and Hepatitis B).
Which of the following is NOT a known cancer risk factor?
a) Carcinogens
b) Genetic alterations
c) Regular exercise
d) Viruses like HPV
Answer: c) Regular exercise
How does obesity affect cancer risk?
Answer: Excess body fat increases the risk of certain cancers, while a balanced diet and healthy weight lower the risk.
What are the three stages of malignant tumour progression?
Answer:
1. Dysplasia (Transformation): A daughter cell mutates and becomes cancerous.
2. Neoplasia: Cancer cells multiply, forming a tumour; new blood vessels begin growing near it.
3. Invasive Neoplasia: Cancer cells spread into surrounding tissues and blood vessels, evading the immune system.
Describe the Dysplasia (Transformation) stage of malignant Cancers
A daughter cell mutates and becomes cancerous.
Describe the Neoplasia stage of malignant Cancers
Neoplasia: Cancer cells multiply, forming a tumour; new blood vessels begin growing near it.
Describe the Invasive Neoplasia stage of malignant Cancers
Invasive Neoplasia: Cancer cells spread into surrounding tissues and blood vessels, evading the immune system.
What is cancer screening?
Answer: A process of checking for cancer before symptoms appear to detect it early and improve treatment success.
Which type of cancer screening is commonly recommended for men under 50?
Answer: PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test for prostate cancer.
What are two self-examinations people can do at home to check for cancer?
Answer: Breast self-examinations (for women) and testicular self-examinations (for men).
What medical tests are used to diagnose cancer?
Answer:
* Blood tests
* Genetic tests
* Pap tests (for cervical cancer)
* Mammograms
* X-rays
* CT scans
* MRI
* Endoscopy
* Biopsy
What is Angiogenesis?
Angiogenesis: New blood vessel formation and maturation. Angiogenic factors (like VEGF, POGF, and BFGF) bind onto receptors of the nearby blood vessels, fostering new blood vessel growth.
What is a biopsy?
Answer: A procedure where a small tissue sample is removed and examined under a microscope to check for cancer.
What is the leading cause of cervical cancer?
Answer: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
How many women in Ontario die from cervical cancer each year?
a) 50
b) 100
c) 150
d) 200
Answer: c) 150
What are the three main cancer treatment methods?
Answer: Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
What is a newer cancer treatment method that uses light to detect and treat cancer cells?
a) Chemotherapy
b) Biophotonics
c) Radiation therapy
d) Immunotherapy
Answer: b) Biophotonics
What are three ways to reduce cancer risk?
Answer:
1. Avoiding carcinogens (e.g., smoking, excessive UV exposure).
2. Eating a healthy, balanced diet.
3. Undergoing regular cancer screenings.
Which foods contain substances that help the body fight cancer?
Answer: Tomatoes, carrots, avocados, grapefruits, garlic, nuts, and figs.
Does cancer screening prevent cancer?
Answer: No, screening does not prevent cancer but helps detect it early for better treatment outcomes.
Why is personal responsibility important in cancer prevention?
Answer: While some factors (like genetics) are uncontrollable, individuals can reduce their risk by making healthy lifestyle choices, avoiding carcinogens, and undergoing regular screenings.
Which of the following is NOT a known cancer risk factor?
a) Carcinogens
b) Genetic alterations
c) Regular exercise
d) Viruses like HPV
Answer: c) Regular exercise
What is the process called when new blood vessels form to support tumour growth?
a) Dysplasia
b) Angiogenesis
c) Apoptosis
d) Neoplasia
Answer: b) Angiogenesis
Which type of tumour does not spread by invasion or metastasis?
a) Malignant
b) Carcinogenic
c) Benign
d) Leukemic
Answer: c) Benign
Which Greek word is the origin of the term “cancer”?
a) Onkos
b) Carcinoma
c) Leukos
d) Sarcoma
Answer: b) Carcinoma
How do malignant tumours spread throughout the body?
Answer: Malignant tumours spread through a process called metastasis, where cancer cells break away from the original tumour, enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and form new tumours in different areas.
When a Cancer metastasizes, cancer cells break off a tumor and travel to other parts of the
body, which allows the cancer to spread to other organs.
True/False
True
How does normal cell division differ from cancerous cell division?
Normal cell division occurs only when it is required (ex., because another cell has died).
Normal cell division is tightly controlled by many factors. Normal cells die when they are supposed to.
Cancer cells divide continuously despite the factors telling them to stop and refuse to die at their programmed time.
