Chapter 11 - Cancer Prevention Flashcards
Angiogenesis
Formation of blood vessels (capillaries).
Benign
Noncancerous.
Cancer
Group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.
Carcinogens
Substances that contribute to the formation of cancers.
Carcinoma in situ
Encapsulated malignant tumor that has not spread.
Carotenoids
Pigment substances in plants that are often precursors to vitamin A. More than 600 carotenoids are found in nature, about 50 of which are precursors to vitamin A, the most potent one being beta-carotene.
Cruciferous vegetables
Plants that produce cross-shaped leaves (cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi), which seem to have a protective effect against cancer.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Genetic substance of which gene are made; molecule that contains cell’s genetic code.
Malignant
Cancerous.
Mammogram
Low-dose x-rays of the breasts used as a screening technique for the early detection of breast tumors.
Melanoma
The most virulent, rapidly spreading form of skin cancer.
Metastasis
The movement of cells from one part of the body to another.
Nitrosamines
Potential cancer-causing compounds formed when nitrites and nitrates, which prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in processed meat, combine with other chemicals in the stomach.
Non-melanoma skin cancer
Cancer that spreads or grows at the original site but does not metastasize to other regions of the body.
Oncogenes
Genes that initiate cell division.
