The "Big C" Flashcards
Type of cancer arise from the cells that cover external and internal body surfaces
Carcinomas
Cancer arising from cells found in the supporting tissues of the body
Sarcomas
Cancer that arise in the lymph nodes and tissues of the body’s immune system
Lymphomas
Cancers of the immature blood cells that grow in the bone marrow
Leukemias
Mechanism by which old or damaged cells normally self destruct
Apoptosis
Direct migration and penetration by cancer cells into neighboring tissues
Invasion
Ability of cancer cells to penetrate into lymphatic blood vessels
Metastasis
Tumors that cannot spread by invasion or metastasis, they only grow locally
Benign tumors
Tumors that are capable of spreading by invasion and metastasis
Malignant tumors
Anything that increases a person’s chance of getting a disease
Risk factor
Risk factors for cancer include:
PERSONAL PROFILE
Age
Sex
Family medical history
Risk factors for cancer include:
ENVIRONMENT
Exposure to radiation
Risk factors for cancer include:
LIFESTYLE CHOICES
Tobacco and alcohol use
Diet
Sun exposure
Main cause of lung cancer
Cigarette smoking
Breast cancer risk factors
Age Obesity Physical activity Alcohol consumption Women with mother or sister who have had breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Age
Race
Diet
History
Felt or noticed by a person but may not easily be noticed by anyone else
Symptoms
Observations made by a doctor, nurse or other health care professional
Sign
Cancer signs and symptoms will depend on
Size of the cancer
Location of the cancer
How much it affects the surrounding organs
9 Cancer Warning Signs
Change in bowel or bladder habits A sore does not heal Unusual bleeding or discharge Thickening or lump in the breast, testicles Indigestion or difficulty swallowing Obvious change in size, color, shape of thickness of a wart, mole or mouth Nagging cough or hoarseness of voice Unexplained weight loss Severe anemia
Process of finding out how far the cancer has spread
Staging
Vital step in determining the treatment choices
Staging the cancer
Meaning of TNM
T tumor
N nearby lymph nodes
M metastasized
Period of time when the cancer is responding to treatment or is under control
Remission
All the signs and symptoms of the disease disappear
Complete Remission
Cancer shrinks but does not completely repair
Partial remission
Radiation Therapy can be used in combination with other treatments
Surgery Chemotherapy Biological therapies Hormone therapies Transplant options Photodynamic therapy
Treatment will depend on
Type of cancer Stage of the cancer Age Health status Patient's personal preference
To control it or treat symptoms
Palliative
To cure the cancer
Curative
Used to treat cancer cells that have metastasized
Chemotherapy
Uses body’s immune system to fight cancer
Biologic therapy
Chemicals that are naturally produced by the organs
Hormones
Uses a light source such as a laser combined with a light-sensitive drug to destroy cancer cells
Photodynamic therapy
Develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control
Cancer
