Cancer

Question 1

Cancer is …

Answer 1

A group of diseases caused from a mutation in the DNA that causes the cell to divide uncontrollably (continual mitosis), creating tumours

Question 2

What is a Tumour? And what are the two types?

Answer 2

Tumours are lumps of cells with NO function. There is benign or malignant.

Question 3

What is the process called by which malignant cancer cells break away from the primary tumour into bloodstream, where they can then establish a secondary tumour elsewhere in the body.

Answer 3

Metastasis

Question 4

What is a benign tumour?

Answer 4

lump of cells that do not affect other cells, except for physical crowding

Question 5

What is a malignant tumour?

Answer 5

lump of cells that interfere with other cell functions or destroy other cells

Question 6

What is a carcinogen? Give some examples of carcinogens.

Answer 6

Environmental factors that cause DNA mutations that cause cancer. 
Examples include: 
–	Tobacco smoke
–	Pollution
–	Sunlight/Tanning beds
–	Some viruses (HPV, hep B)
–	Chemicals
–	Xrays 
–	Poor nutrition

Question 7

What are the 3 main treatments of cancer?

Answer 7

1. Surgery
2. Chemotherapy
3. Radiation

Question 8

Name some ways to detect cancer?

Answer 8

1. Check-ups – Lumps/pap test/PSA
   – Moles = Asymmetry, Border, Colour,
   Diameter (ABCD)
2. Imaging Technologies - Xray, CT scan, Ultrasound, MRI, Mammograms, Endoscopy
3. Biopsy – removal of living tissue for examination

Question 9

Define surgery

Answer 9

Physical removal of tumour, if detected early. Tumour must be accessible and fairly defined.

Question 10

Define chemotherapy

Answer 10

Drugs/chemicals spread through the body to stop or slow fast dividing cells.

Question 11

Define radiation

Answer 11

Beams of high energy light rays are directed at tumour to damage DNA and promote cell death.