Cancer Part 2 Flashcards
True or false: most mutations do not result in cancer
True
What does the word benign mean?
Not cancerous
What is the recommended screening for an average-risk women aged 50-74 for breast cancer?
A mammography every 2-3 years.
What is the 5 year survival rate for stage IV breast cancer?
22%
Risk factors for prostate cancer?
Family history, age, obesity, tall adult height, black ethnicity
What is the most common cancer in men?
Prostate cancer
What percent of men with prostate cancer were aged 50+?
99%
How many men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime?
1 in 9 men.
Where is the prostate gland located?
Right below the bladder and it wraps around the canal that urine and semen come out.
What happens to your prostate gland if there is a tumour in it?
It can block the channel.
Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer?
- Urination problems
- blood in urine or semen
- erectile dysfunction
- pain or stiffness in back, hips, or pelvis
- fatigue
What is the probability of surviving prostate cancer at least 5 years after diagnosing it?
About 93%, it is not an essential organ.
What is the 3rd most common cancer in Canada?
Colorectal cancer
Signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer?
- Persistent change in bowel movements
- blood in stool
- abdominal pain or discomfort
- weight loss
- fatigue
What are the risks for colorectal cancer?
Aging, physical inactivity, smoking tobacco, alcohol intake, obesity, diet high in processed or red meat, family history, inflammatory bowel disease.
Why are high fiber foods like fruits and vegetables, and whole grains good to decrease risk for colon cancer?
They are not digestible by your body so they clean out your colons and promote bowel movement.
What is the probability of surviving colorectal cancer at least 5 years after diagnosis?
65%
Which is more common, a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy?
Sigmoidoscopy (camera does not go all the way) even though people call them both colonoscopy
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer?
- Persistent cough
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- Weight loss
- bone pain
- headache
What percentage of lung cancer cases are aged 50 +?
98%
What is the most common cancer in Canada?
Lung cancer
Risk factors for lung cancer?
Smoking, exposure to second hand, exposure to radon gas, aging, air pollution, exposure to carcinogens
What percentage of lung cancer is diagnosed at stage IV?
50%
What is the probability of surviving lung cancer 5 years after being diagnosed?
19%
How can 4 in 10 cancer cases be prevented?
- Be smoke free
- keep a healthy diet
- be safe in the sun
-Avoid certain substances (asbestos) at work - protect against certain infections
- Drink less alcohol
- eat a high fibre diet
- avoid unnecessary radiation
- cut down on processed meat
- avoid air pollution
- breastfeed if possible
- be more active
- minimize HRT use
Does exercise reduce the risk for all cancers?
No, only some
What are the main treatments for cancer?
Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy
When is surgery treatment most effective in cancer treatment? What is its main goal?
When it’s in an early stage. Main goal is to completely remove the tumour or cancerous tissue
What happens during radiotherapy treatment for cancer?
- Directs high energy X-ray beams at tumours, so damages cancer cel’s DNA, but also healthy cells.
What happens during chemotherapy for cancer treatment?
- Either take pills or injected through the bloodstream
- targets cancer cells
How does radiation therapy damage cells?
- By destroying the genetic material that controls how cells grow and divide.
- both healthy and cancerous cells are damaged by radiation therapy
Can radiation therapy be done on the whole body at a time or only small areas?
Only small areas
Why do we need different drugs to target each different cell?
Each cancer cell is a bit different, so the receptors on those cells are different.
Why is a biopsy important in cancer treatment?
So doctors know what approach will work best for that type of cancer.
Why have age standardized mortality rates for most cancers improved?
- Screening, diagnosis, and treatment
