Cancer

Question 1

Benign vs malignant tumors:

Answer 1

Benign

• Grow slowly
• Not invasive
• Capsulated

Malignant

• Grow rapidly
• Not encapsulated
• Invasive (spreads)

Question 2

Benign tumors are named according to:

Answer 2

• Tissue they originate in
• “oma” suffix

“Lipoma, Osteoma…”

Question 3

Hallmark signs of a cancer cell include:

• Anaplasia
• Pleomorphic

Answer 3

Anaplasia: Loss of cell differentiation

Pleomorphic: Variable size and shape

Question 4

Malignant cancers are named based off:

What type of cells commonly result in cancer?

Answer 4

Type of cell they originate

Occurs in cells that replicate fast (melanoma)

Question 5

Carcinoma in situ (CIS)

• What is it?

Answer 5

Pre-invasive tumor; not malignant but will be

(can spread but hasn’t yet)

Question 6

What are the risks of cancer?

Answer 6

• Aging
• Genetic mutation
• Clonal proliferation (new cell with increased growth rate)

Question 7

Cancer cells created from normal cell in lab:

What are some characteristics?

Answer 7

Transformed cells

• Immortal
• Lack contact inhibition

Question 8

What are these terms:

• Proto-oncogenes
• Oncogenes

Answer 8

Proto-oncogenes: regulate normal cell growth

Oncogenes: Mutated proto-oncogenes

Question 9

What are tumor-suppressor genes?

Answer 9

Make proteins that stop growth of cancer/oncogenes

Question 10

If mutation occurs in somatic cells, will that spread to offspring?

Answer 10

No:

Mutations to gametes can be passed

Question 11

How can chronic inflammation promote cancer?

Answer 11

Inflammatory cells release cytokines and free radicals;

Damage and mutate cells

Question 12

What microbes can cause cancer?

Answer 12

• Bacteria (tissue damage)
• Viruses (HPV, Herpes, Hep)

Question 13

What is Metastasis?

Answer 13

Cancer spreads from primary site to distant site.

By way of blood vessels/lymphatic system

Question 14

What is the only way you can diagnose a tumor?

Answer 14

Through a biopsy

(other symptoms are variable)

Question 15

What is:

Stage 1 cancer

Stage 2 cancer

Answer 15

Stage 1: No metastasis

Stage 2: Local invasion

Question 16

What is:

Stage 3 cancer

Stage 4 cancer

Answer 16

Stage 3: Spread to lymph nodes

Stage 4: distant metastasis

Question 17

What is the TNM system of staging?

Answer 17

T= tumor spread

N= Node involvment

M= Distant metastasis

Question 18

What are tumor markers?

Answer 18

Substances made by benign or malignant tumor:

• Lab indication of tumor
• Diagnose specific types

Question 19

When is pain seen in cancer?

Answer 19

Little/no pain in early stages

Advanced cancer: caused by direct pressure, stretching of organs

Question 20

When is fatigue seen in cancer?

What are the causes?

Answer 20

Subjective of each patient: May or may not be seen

• Lack of appetite and sleep
• Treatments can cause

Question 21

What is cachexia?

What causes it?

Answer 21

Severe form of malnutrition seen often in cancer patients at death

• Lack of energy, altered metabolism, altered taste

Question 22

What is anemia?

What are the causes?

Answer 22

Decrease hemoglobin in blood

Chronic bleeding, malnutrition, chemotherapy.

Question 23

What is leukopenia/thrombocytopenia?

What causes it in cancer patients?

Answer 23

Leukopenia= Low WBCs

Thrombocytopenia= Low platelets

• Chemotherapy (toxic to bone marrow) and subsequent infections

Question 24

What gastrointestinal manifestations can occur in cancer patients?

Why?

Answer 24

• Malabsorption
• Ulcers
• Diarrhea
• Nausea

All of these caused by chemotherapy (toxic)

Question 25

What are skin/hair manifestations of cancer patients?

Answer 25

Alopecia= hair loss

Skin breakdown/dryness

(chemotherapy causes)

Question 26

What is chemotherapy?

Answer 26

Cytotoxic drugs that target cellular machinery/metabolic pathways.

Affects normal/malignant cell growth and replication

Question 27

What are the goals of chemotherapy?

Answer 27

Eliminate enough tumor cells so body can finish rest.

Question 28

What are sentinel nodes?

Answer 28

First lymph node to have cancer?

Question 29

What are:

Debulking surgery

Palliative surgery

Answer 29

Debulking surgery: Remove tumor

Palliative surgery: Alleviate symptoms

Question 30

What is ionizing radiation/how is it used?

Answer 30

Eradicate cancer without toxicitiy.

Avoid damage to normal structures (localized)

Question 31

What causes 2/3 of all cancers?

Answer 31

Environmental/lifestyle factors

Question 32

What are epigenetics?

Answer 32

Change in phenotype without DNA mutation.

-Usually activate genes/silence genes?

Question 33

What are the main risk factors of cancer?

Answer 33

• Smoking (all smoking)
• Diet (Red meat and processed foods)
• Obesity
• Alcohol (>3)
• Radiation

Question 34

Alcohol increases the risk for these types of cancer:

Answer 34

Head and esophageal cancers

Question 35

What types of skin cancer does Ultraviolet radiation cause?

Answer 35

1. Melanoma: Melanocytes
2. Basal cell: lowest part of epidermis
3. Squamous cell: Surface of skin
   
   1. Can occur on all parts that are sun exposed

Question 36

How does UV radiation cause cancer?

Answer 36

Induces release of Free radicals; promotes skin inflammation

Question 37

What’s the main cause of cervical cancer?

Answer 37

HPV

Prevention: there is a vaccine

Question 38

How does physical activity reduce cancer risks?

Answer 38

Decreases:

• insulin
• Obesity
• Increases peristalsis (amount of time exposed to mutagens)

Question 39

What types of air pollutions can cause cancer?

Answer 39

Particulate matter (Droplets of metal, dust, acids):

• Primary particle: Directly from source (smoke stack)
• Seondary particle (Power, industry)

Question 40

What indoor/occupational hazards can increase cancer risks?

Answer 40

• Dyes
• Rubber
• Paint
• Metals