Cancer Flashcards
What are the most commonly diagnosed cancers
Name four
Prostate
Bowel
Breast
Melanoma of the skin
Define cancer
Cancer is a group of disorders that causes cells to escape normal controls on cell division
What is a common feature of cancer
Uncontrolled cell division
Cancer cells divide more or less frequently?
More frequently
And there are multiple causes (genetic and environmental)
Cancer cells can invade other tissues through a process called ….
Metastasis
Cancer cells are NOT inhibited by contact with other cells and can form what?
Tumours
Define neoplasia
Means “new growth”
Generally refers to the growth of a tissue, or the proliferation of cells which serves no physiological purpose
Define tumour
A tumour is an inappropriate cell growth which is not necessarily cancer
Derived from Latin word “swelling”
Tumours may be benign (no direct threat to life)
Or malignant (tends to produce death or deterioration)
If you discovered a tumour on your left big toe, would you hope it to be a malignant tumour or a benign tumour?
Benign, duh.
No direct threat to your life
A malignant tumour is known to:
Grow _______
Are _____ differentiated; do/do not look like the tissue from which they arose
Are not encapsulated
Invade local structures and _______
Have a _____ prognosis and are/ are not usually life threatening
A malignant tumour is known to:
Grow RAPIDLY
Are POORLY differentiated; DO NOT look like the tissue from which they arose
Are not encapsulated
Invade local structures and TISSUES
Have a POOR prognosis and ARE usually life threatening
Benign tumours are likely to :
Grow ____
Are _____ differentiated; look like the tissue they arose from
Have a well defined capsule
Are/are not invasive
Have a _____ prognosis; often are /are not life threatening
Benign tumours are likely to :
Grow SLOWLY
Are WELL differentiated; look like the tissue they arose from
Have a well defined capsule
ARE NOT invasive
Have a POOR prognosis; often ARE NOT life threatening
Although benign tumours are not invasive- if it were near a blood vessel , could it restrict blood flow?
Yes, it could restrict blood flow in the abdomen and could impair digestion
If it were in the brain it can cause paralysis
_____ tumours are not self contained and usually do not compress surrounding tissues
Growth is an irregular invasion of adjacent cells
Malignant tumours are not self contained and usually do not compress surrounding tissues
Growth is an irregular invasion of adjacent cells
Malignant tumours are not localised
In a process called ______ they shed cells that travel through the bloodstream and infect tissues at other locations
They can even establish malignant growth in a different type of tissue
Metastasis
What are three of the most common causes of death from candle
Lung
Bowel
Prostate
