Case Study Flashcards
Causes of cancer
genes
Enviorment (Carcinogens {asbestos, solvents, UV radiation})
Choices (smoking, tanning beds, alcohol)
Weight and exercise
Methods of diagnosis (advantages and disadvantages)
Step 1: Imaging (CT, MRI, X- Ray)
advantages- to see abnormal mass inside
disadvantages- can hram healthy cells, do not tell you if there are tumors
Step 2: Biopsy
advantage: Only definitive way to know if cancer is malignant
disadvantages: takes time to heal, painful
Malignant
Harmful to other cells
Benign
does not affect/harm other cells
metastasis
Only melignant calls are metastasis (remember m for m)
Characteristics of cancer cells
- Cancer cells grow without signals that tell them to stop, and they can grow faster than normal cells.
- Cancer cells can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system.
Metastasis
The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body.
How does cancer spread
- Tumour starts on the surface of the organ
- This cell has a mutation that makes it divide rapidly
- The cancer cells go deeper into the body’s tissue
- The tumour steals nutrients in the blood from healthy cells
- Cancer cells starts to invade other areas of the body (often lungs, bones, liver, brain)
Digestive system function
1) Ingestion- food is taken into the body through the mouth
2) Digestion- food is broken down (physically and chemically)
3) Absorption- nutrients are moved into the blood
4) Elimination- solid waste passes from the digestive system out of the body
Circulatory system function
transport substances around the body
- Transports nutrients absorbed in the intestine to all body cells
- Picks up oxygen at lungs and delivers it to all body
cells - Carries carbon dioxide from all cells to lungs, where it’s released
- Transports wastes to the kidneys where they are
filtered and excreted
Circulatory system function
Is responsible for providing oxygen to the
cells of the body and for removing the
carbon dioxide that has been produced as
your body uses energy for growth, repair and
movement
Digestive and circulatory similarities and differences
Food is digested, broken down into nutrients, absorbed by the small intestine, diffused into the blood, and transported by the circulatory system to body cells for function.
Digestive and respiratory
The digestive system uses muscle contractions and oxygen to digest food, while the respiratory system provides oxygen and nutrients. Cellular respiration uses muscles and energy, and unwanted materials in the trachea are eliminated through the digestive system.
Circulatory and respiratory
Cells require oxygen and nutrients, which are absorbed through inhalation, diffusion into the blood, and then exhaled. Carbon dioxide, produced by cells, diffuses into the blood and is exhaled.
Digestive symptoms related to cancer
Cancer in or affecting the digestive system (e.g., stomach, colon, liver, or pancreas) can impair digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste elimination:
Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, changes in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea), abdominal pain, blood in stool, and unexplained weight loss.
Tumor Obstruction: A tumor in the intestines can block food passage, causing pain, bloating, and constipation.
Metastasis: Cancer spreading to the liver may impair its ability to filter toxins or process nutrients.
repritory symptoms related to cancer
Lung cancer or cancers spreading to the lungs can disrupt normal breathing and oxygen exchange:
Symptoms: Persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up blood (hemoptysis).
Mechanisms:
Tumor Compression: A tumor in the lungs can block airways, reducing airflow.
Fluid Build-up (Pleural Effusion): Cancer may cause fluid accumulation around the lungs, leading to breathlessness.
Weakened Lung Function: Damage to lung tissue from cancer can reduce oxygen exchange.
Circulatory system related to cancer
Cancer affecting the circulatory system (e.g., blood cancers like leukemia or cancers metastasizing to the heart) can disrupt blood flow and oxygen transport:
Symptoms: Fatigue, anemia, easy bruising, swelling (edema), and chest pain.
Mechanisms:
Reduced Blood Production: Leukemia and other cancers in the bone marrow can impair red blood cell, white blood cell, or platelet production, leading to anemia and immune system dysfunction.
Clot Formation (Thrombosis): Some cancers increase blood clotting risk, leading to dangerous blockages in veins or arteries.
Heart Impact: Tumors in or near the heart can interfere with pumping efficiency or lead to fluid accumulation around the heart.
