the cancer bit

Question 1

What are solid cancers?

Answer 1

Tumors not present in large enough numbers in body fluids for detection by cytology tests; can release detectable substances. Examples include lung, liver, kidney, and breast cancer.

Question 2

What are liquid cancers?

Answer 2

Also known as blood cancers; these are present in the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic system. Examples include leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

Question 3

What is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S.?

Answer 3

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S.

Question 4

What are the main risk factors for lung cancer?

Answer 4

Smoking (80-90%), secondhand smoke, high levels of air pollution, radon, asbestos exposure, and prolonged exposure to industrial agents.

Question 5

How does lung cancer develop?

Answer 5

Inhalation of toxins leads to mutated epithelial cells, which increases epidermal growth factor and results in tumor formation.

Question 6

What are the two main types of lung cancer?

Answer 6

Non-small cell lung cancer (80%) and small cell lung cancer (20%).

Question 7

What are common manifestations of lung cancer?

Answer 7

Persistent cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, wheezing, localized chest pain, anorexia/weight loss, and fatigue.

Question 8

How is lung cancer diagnosed?

Answer 8

Diagnosis includes history and physical exam, chest X-ray/CT scan, sputum cytology, biopsy, and PET scan.

Question 9

What is the second most common cancer in American women?

Answer 9

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American women after skin cancer.

Question 10

What are the key risk factors for breast cancer?

Answer 10

Female gender, age >50, hormone therapy, family history, gene mutations (BRCA1, BRCA2, P53), early menarche, late menopause, and alcohol consumption.

Question 11

How does breast cancer typically develop?

Answer 11

Genetic mutations can lead to tumor development in the epithelial lining of mammary ducts (ductal carcinoma) or milk-producing glands (lobular carcinoma).

Question 12

What are the main manifestations of breast cancer?

Answer 12

Lump or thickening in the breast, abnormal mammogram, nipple discharge, nipple retraction, and peau d’orange appearance.

Question 13

How is breast cancer diagnosed?

Answer 13

Diagnosis involves history and physical exam, mammography, radiographic studies, and breast or lymph node biopsy.

Question 14

What is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths?

Answer 14

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the third most common cancer overall.

Question 15

What are the risk factors for colorectal cancer?

Answer 15

Male gender, African American ethnicity, age >50, family history, high red meat consumption, and irritable bowel disease.

Question 16

How does colorectal cancer develop?

Answer 16

Multiple gene alterations and environmental interactions lead to the development of polyps, which can progress to cancer.

Question 17

What are common manifestations of colorectal cancer?

Answer 17

Fatigue, weight loss, abdominal tenderness, palpable abdominal mass, hepatomegaly, ascites, and hematochezia.

Question 18

How is colorectal cancer diagnosed?

Answer 18

Diagnosis includes history and physical exam, fecal occult blood tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy with biopsy, and CT scan.

Question 19

What is leukemia?

Answer 19

A class of malignancies affecting the blood, bone marrow, lymphatic system, and spleen.

Question 20

What are known risk factors for leukemia?

Answer 20

Chemicals, previous chemotherapy, viruses, radiation, and immunologic deficiency disorders.

Question 21

How does leukemia develop?

Answer 21

Genetic mutations lead to an accumulation of dysfunctional cells, which can obstruct blood flow and cause organ failure.

Question 22

What are the classifications of leukemia?

Answer 22

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

Question 23

What are common manifestations of leukemia?

Answer 23

Anemia, thrombocytopenia, bone pain, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, weakness, fatigue, and weight loss.

Question 24

How is leukemia diagnosed?

Answer 24

Diagnosis includes CBC with differential, bone marrow biopsy, and lymph node biopsy.

Question 25

What is lymphoma?

Answer 25

Malignancies originating in the lymphatic structures and bone marrow, resulting in the proliferation of abnormal lymphocytes.

Question 26

What are the two most common types of lymphoma?

Answer 26

Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Question 27

What is a classic sign of Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Answer 27

Proliferation of Reed-Sternberg cells in lymph nodes is a classic sign of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Question 28

What are common manifestations of Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Answer 28

Enlargement of cervical, axillary, and inguinal lymph nodes, mediastinal mass, weight loss, fatigue, fevers, night sweats, and pruritus.

Question 29

How is Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosed?

Answer 29

Diagnosis includes history and physical exam, blood smear analysis, lymph node and bone marrow biopsies, and radiographic studies like CT and PET scans.

Question 30

What characterizes Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Answer 30

Malignant neoplasms of B-, T-, and natural killer cells; it tends to be more disseminated than Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Question 31

What are the common manifestations of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?

Answer 31

Painless lymph node enlargement, hepatomegaly, mental status changes, shortness of breath, N/V, and elevated BUN/creatinine.

Question 32

How is Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosed?

Answer 32

Diagnosis involves similar methods as Hodgkin’s lymphoma but requires more diagnostic studies due to its dissemination.

Question 33

What is multiple myeloma?

Answer 33

A plasma cell cancer characterized by neoplastic plasma cells infiltrating the bone marrow, leading to destruction.

Question 34

What are the risk factors for multiple myeloma?

Answer 34

Age >40, male gender, and Black race.

Question 35

What are common manifestations of multiple myeloma?

Answer 35

Generalized skeletal pain, hypercalcemia, and renal, gastrointestinal, or neurological symptoms due to hypercalcemia.

Question 36

How is multiple myeloma diagnosed?

Answer 36

Diagnosis includes history and physical exam, bone scans, PET scans, and CT/MRI.

Question 37

What are the risk factors for childhood cancers?

Answer 37

Prenatal exposure to medications, pesticides, environmental toxins, and ionizing radiation.

Question 38

What specific associations are linked to childhood cancers?

Answer 38

Ionizing radiation linked to leukemias; EBV linked to Burkitt lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma; HIV linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Kaposi Sarcoma.