Chapter 8: Cancer Flashcards
What is cancer?
An abnormal, uncontrolled multiplication of cells that if left untreated can cause death
Cancer is the 1st leading cause of death in Canada. True or False?
False, cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death in Canada
What cancer kills the most men and women?
Lung cancer
What cancer has the most cases?
Prostate cancer
In 2008 worldwide, how many new cases of cancer were discovered?
12 million
In 2008 worldwide, how many deaths were caused by cancer?
7 million
In 2008 worldwide, how many people were living with cancer?
25 million
Cancer is the primary cause of death under the age of 65. True or false?
True
Why do statistics exclude some skin cancers?
Some skin cancers are excluded because they are easy to cure and easy to control and would inflate the stats if they were included.
What is metastasis?
Cancer cells don’t stick together as cell as normal cells causing them to break off and spread to other parts of the body.
What are the stages of cancer? Describe them briefly.
0 - Early cancer, only present in the layer of cells where it originated
1,2,3 - More extensive cancer, higher stages based on tumor size and the degree of spread
4 - Advanced cancer that has spread to another organ
What is a tumor/neoplasm?
A mass of tissue that serves no physiological purpose
What a benign tumor?
A non-cancerous tumor made of cells similar to the cells around it
When does a benign tumor become dangerous?
When it blocks or inhibits a bodily function
What is a malignant tumor?
A cancerous tumor that is able to spread to other part of the body
Is cancer always in the form of tumors?
No, for example leukemia is cancer of the blood
Why might cancer take over the leading cause of death?
Although death rates are decreasing for cancer, heart disease death rates are decreasing at a faster rate, therefore cancer may become the leading cause of death
How many men and women were diagnosed with cancer in 2010?
men - 90 000
women - 83 900
List the four types of cancer.
Carcinomas, sarcomas, lymphomas, leukemia
What is carcinoma cancer?
The most common type of cancer rising from the epithelial cells (skin, glands, internal organ liner)
What is sarcoma cancer?
Cancer arising from connective/fibrous tissue (muscle, fat, membranes)
What is lymphoma cancer?
Cancer arising in the lymph nodes (bodies infection fighting system)
What is leukemia cancer?
Cancer arising from the bone marrow where blood-forming cells are found
What is an oncologist?
A specialist in the study of tumors
What is a hematologist?
A specialist in the study of blood disorders, including cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma