Cancer: Human Health and Diseases

Question 1

What is cancer?

Answer 1

• Cancer is a non-infectious and non-communicable.
• It is a disorder of cell growth in our body. Cells multiply rapidly at a particular region and form cell colonies or Tumour (Neoplasm)
• Uncontrolled growth
• Cells do not have any bounds, they invade adjacent tissues and destroy them
• Disease of the genome

Question 2

Define neoplasm

Answer 2

A neoplasm or tumour is a the swelling of a part of the body, without any inflammation, caused by abnormal growth of tissues.

Question 3

Metastasis

Answer 3

The moving and settling of cancer cells from a primary region to a secondary region is termed as metastasis

Question 4

Benign tumour

Answer 4

1. Non-cancerous
2. Capsulated
3. Non-invasive
4. Slow growing
5. Do not metastasize to other parts of the body
6. Cells are normal

Question 5

Malignant tumour

Answer 5

1. Cancerous
2. Non-capsulated
3. Fast growing
4. Metastasize to other parts of the body
5. Cells have large, dark nuclei and may have abnormal shape

Question 6

Carcinomas: percentage among humans, origin, example

Answer 6

% among humans: 85%

Origin: Epithelial cells (Ectodermal/Endodermal in origin)

Example: Breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreas cancer, stomach cancer

Question 7

Sarcomas: percentage among humans, origin, example

Answer 7

SOLID TUMOURS

% among humans: 2%

Origin: Connective tissue (Mesodermal in origin)

Examples: Cartilage, muscle, bone cancer

Question 8

Lymphomas: percentage among humans, origin, example

Answer 8

% among humans: 5%

Origin: Excessive production of lymphocytes in spleen and lymph nodes

Example: Hodgkin’s disease

Question 9

Leukemias: percentage among humans, origin, example

Answer 9

% among humans: 4%

Origin: Unchecked blood cell proliferation
Excessive production of leucocytes

Example: Blood cancer

Question 10

What are carcinogens

Answer 10

Agents that cause cancer are called carcinogens

Question 11

Chemical compounds that are carcinogenic

Answer 11

Soot, tar, chromium compunds etc

Question 12

Carcinogenic radiations

Answer 12

Radiations induce free radicals like OH and superoxide

Question 13

What are oncogenic viruses?

Answer 13

Viruses that can cause cancer are called oncogenic viruses

Oncogenesis: Integration of viral genome into host chromosome

Question 14

What factors in a person’s everyday life can cause cancer?

Answer 14

• Occupation of a person: exposed to asbestos, rubber, benzene etc
• Tobacco smoking
• Diet
• Lifestyle

Question 15

Symptoms of cancer

Answer 15

1. Lump or area of thickening that can be felt under the skin
2. Pain without any clear cause
3. Extreme fluctuations in weight
4. Fatigue
5. Blood in urine or stool
6. Persistent cough

Question 16

Diagnosis of cancer

Answer 16

• Biopsy
• CT (Computerised Tomography) scan
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan

Question 17

Name methods of treatment of cancer

Answer 17

1. Surgery
2. Chemotherapy
3. Radiation therapy
4. Immunotherapy
5. Gene therapy

Question 18

Surgery

Answer 18

Removal of the tumour. This, however, is effective only in Stage-1 cancer

Question 19

Chemotherapy

Answer 19

Anti-cancer drugs are given to the patient. These drugs interfere with the duplication of DNA

Question 20

Radiation therapy

Answer 20

Ionizing radiation is used to kill the cancer cells and shrink the tumour cells. These radiations may damage the adjacent normal cells too

Question 21

Immunotherapy

Answer 21

Monoclonal antibodies are directed against the surface proteins (antigens) which are characteristic of cancer cells

Question 22

Gene therapy

Answer 22

Introduction of new genes into the cancer cells or surrounding tissues which can lead to replacement or death of cancer cell