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
What are the risk factors related to getting lung cancer?
Smoking, being exposed to carcinogenics
What percentage of all new cancer diagnoses are lunch cancers?
14%
How is lung cancer detected?
Cough, chest pains, reoccurring bronchitis, chest x-ray
What is the 3rd most common cancer?
Colon/rectal cancer
What are the risk factors of getting colon/rectal cancer?
Age, heredity, type 2 diabetes, chronic bowel inflammation, pollups in the colon/rectum
How is colon/rectal cancer detected?
Bleeding from the rectum, change in bowel habits, blood in the stool
What is the most common cancer in women?
Breast cancer
What are the risk factors of getting breast cancer?
Genetics, early menstruation, late menopause, obesity, alcohol, not having children, estrogen levels
/ women will develop breast cancer, / women will die from breast cancer
1/9, 1/28
How does the risk of breast cancer increase as women get older?
Between the ages of 30-45, the risk doubles every 5 years and then slowly increases after that
How is breast cancer detected?
mammogram, clinical breast exam, self exam, lumps, swelling, nipple pain, retraction
What cancer is the 3rd leading cause of death in men?
Prostate
What is the most common cancer in men?
Prostate
What are the risk factors for getting prostate caner?
Age, diet, type 2 diabetes, genetics
How is prostate cancer detected?
Blood in the urine, painful urination, abnormal urination, blood test, rectal exam, biopsy, ultrasound
List the three cancers of the female reproductive system.
Cervical cancer, uterine/endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer
How does a women develop cervical cancer?
Sexually transmitted HPV, herpes, smoking
How is cervical cancer detected?
PAP test
What is uterine/endometrial cancer?
Cancer on the wall of the uterus
What are risk factors for getting uterine/endometrial cancer?
Estrogen, early menstruation, late menopause, never being pregnant, obesity
What are the risk factors for developing ovarian cancer?
Aging, genetics, obesity, never being pregnant
Ovarian cancer is easy to detect. True or false?
False, ovarian cancer is usually very difficult to detect
What is most common form of cancer?
Skin cancer
What type of skin cancer is difficult to treat?
Melanoma, a malignant tumor on the outside of the skin
What are the risk factors for developing skin cancer?
UV radiation, severe sunburns as a child, genetics
What are the three types of skin cancers? Explain each briefly.
Basal cell (cancer in the deepest level of the skin), squamous cell (cancer on the surface level of skin), melanoma (tumor on the skin)
How is skin cancer detected?
Self examination for moles, spots, unusual growths
What are the risk factors of developing oral cancer?
Smoking, chewing tobacco
List come common causes of cancer.
Genetics, lifestyle, smoking, obesity, carcinogens
What is CAUTION? What does it stand for?
It's used to detect cancer. Change in bowel/bladder habits A sore that does not heal Unusual bleeding or discharge Thickening or lump in the breasts or elsewhere Indigestion or difficulty swallowing Obvious change in a wart or mole Nagging cough or hoarseness
How can cancer be prevented?
Varied diet, self-exams, being active, safe sex, healthy weight, sun protection, screening tests, eating fruits and vegetables
List the three most common ways to treat cancer. Describe each briefly.
Surgery (removal of the tumor), chemotherapy (drug cocktail the kills cancer cells), radiation (X-ray,gamma ray,)
Why is chemotherapy have so many side effects? What are the side effects?
It can also damage your cells. Side effects include hair loss, nausea, fatigue.
Why is radiation a common treatment if it kills all cells?
Cancer cells can be specifically targeted
What does POG stand for?
Personalized oncogenomics
Where is POG based out of?
British Columbia
How to people get chosen to participate in POG?
Patients have stage four cancer and must be a resident in British Columbia
What does POG do?
Scans the persons normal DNA sequence, then scans the persons tumor DNA sequence and finds the mutation in the DNA. All available medical treatments are researched for that mutation and given to that patient.
Does POG only handle cancer cases?
No, POG tried to treat a young boy who had a genetic disease that causes tumors to form on the nerve tissue
