Cancers & Treatments

Question 1

What is cancer?

Answer 1

It is the division of cells that is uncontrolled

Question 2

What is a tumour

Answer 2

Mass of uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells

Question 3

Malignant tumour

Answer 3

Are able to spread to other parts of the body.
Known as metastasis

Question 4

Benign Tumours

Answer 4

Do not spread to other parts of the body
- Not able to invade normal tissues, blood or lymph vessels.
- Grows and presses on surrounding tissues

Question 5

Carcinogens

Answer 5

Certain environmental factors that trigger malignant tumours

Question 6

Types of carcinogens

Answer 6

Ultraviolet radiation
X-rays
Ionising radiation (radium ad ores/uranium)
Viruses
Chemical carcinogens

Question 7

Cancers and their early detections

Answer 7

Cervical cancer - pap smear can be used to detect abnormalities in cervical cells before they become cancerous.
Breast cancer - mammography - x-ray of the breast detecting tumours.
Bowel cancer - faecal occult blood test (FOBT) detects blood in faeces that may arise

Question 8

Outline cervical cancer

Answer 8

At risk: Women who’ve had sexual intercourse
Caused by: Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Infection clears up naturally 8-14 months - if it doesn’t abnormalities of cervical cells can develop

Question 9

Outline the cervical cancer test

Answer 9

Papanicolaou test (cervical screening test)
- Tests for the presence of these abnormal cells.
- Cells are collected from the cervix and smeared onto a microscope slide and examined for abnormalities.
- Does not diagnose cancer, it detects early changes in cervical cells that may develop into cancer.

Question 10

Outline breast cancer tests

Answer 10

Mammography screening (X-Ray for breasts)
- Mammogram is created - this picture can show detections of tumours
Can have a digital mammography

Question 11

Outline Bowel Cancer

Answer 11

Colorectal cancer
Malignant tumour that develops in large intestine - colon or rectum
Can be treated successfully if diagnosed early.
Often no symptoms
- Fewer than 40% of this cancer are detected in early stages

Question 12

Outline bowel cancer tests

Answer 12

Faecal occult blood test (FOBT)
Test done at home and mailed to laboratory for analysis - they look for very small amounts of blood.
Blood in faeces can come from polyps or bowel cancer.
Positive patients are usually referred for a colonoscopy.
- Visual examination of the inside of the large intestine using a colonoscope.

Question 13

Outline prostate cancer

Answer 13

Can grow very slowly & does not require any treatment
But there are that grow/spread rapidly - life-threatening.
No test that distinguishes between these cancers

Question 14

Outline the 3 prostate cancer tests

Answer 14

Digital rectal examination (DRE)
- Doctor inserts gloved finger into the anus to feel the surface of the prostate gland.
- Any swelling, hardening or irregularities of the surface may indicate cancer.
- Only part of the prostate surface can be felt, some irregularities may be beyond reach.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test
- Checks the blood for the presence of a protein produced by the prostate gland.
PSA is rising - may indicate presence of a prostate tumour.

Biopsy
If other examinations indicate possibility of cancer, then a biopsy is performed.
A small tissue sample.
A spring-loaded needle is used, and several samples are taken.
Tissue samples can be used to determine the presence of tumour cells and the type of tumour.

Question 15

Cancer preventions

Answer 15

Avoid smoking and limit alcohol intake
Reduce exposure to UV radiation
Avoid being overweight or obese
Limit exposure to carcinogens - wear protective clothing when handling organic solvents or vinyl chlorides

Question 16

Cancer Treatments

Answer 16

Chemotherapy - uses drugs to kill cancer cells
Radiation - at high doses, radiation therapy kills cancer cells or slows their growth by damaging their DNA.
Surgical removal of tumours - not used for leukaemia or cancer that have spread.