Cancer Part 1 Flashcards
What is the leading cause of death?
Cancer
Whose life expectancy is longer, male or female?
Female.
Why is it that at age 65, we are given a higher life expectancy than at birth?
Some babies die, so the average age at birth gets lowered when age 0 is factored in.
What percent of Canadians will die from cancer?
25%
What percent of Canadians develop cancer in their lifetime?
40%
What’s the “Five-year cancer survival rate”? (If someone was diagnosed today, what are the chances they’ll survive after 5 years?)
64%
What is cancer?
Uncontrolled (or unregulated) growth and spread of abnormal cells anywhere in the body.
How many different types of cancer are there and what are the top 4?
More than 200. Lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate (they all make up 50% of all cases in Canada).
In cell replication, what happens when there is space (typically from a cell dying) between cells?
They replicate to fill the space.
What is apoptosis?
A cell killing itself due to being a mutation.
What happens if a gene or cell is damaged but the part of the cell that’s damaged is the apoptosis?
It cannot kill itself, so it replicates. First step of cancer.
What does hyperplasia mean?
Increased replication.
What does dysplasia mean?
Abnormal structure and organization. Can be seen under microscope.
Does dysplasia always lead to cancer?
No. it can lead to cancer but it can also go back to hyperplasia.
What is carcinoma in situ?
Abnormal cells that can be seen under the microscope but do not spread. Large clump in same location. This is called a benign tumor. “Stage 0”
What determines if carcinoma in site turns into cancer?
Depends on type of cells and where it is, can or cannot turn into a malignant tumor (cancer)