TOPIC 6 - cancer Flashcards
cancer treatments
radiation, chemo, brachytherapy, surgery
benign vs malignant
benign: harmless, does not require intervention
malignant: indicates cancer, serious (can lead to death without intervention)
benign tumor cells
normal cells growing in the wrong place or at the wrong time
result of problem with cellular regulation
specific morphology, small size, specific differentiated function, tight adherence, no migration, orderly growth, normal chromosomes
transformation occurs through
initiation, promotion, progression, metastasis
features of cancer cells
anoplasia, large nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio, specific functions lost, loose adherence, migration, no contact inhibition, rapid or continuous cell division, abnormal chromosomes
how do oncogenes affect cancer development
oncogenes have the potential to chance a normal cell to a malignant one
cancer etiology and genetic risk
oncogene activation, chemical/ physical/ viral carcinogenesis, dietary factors, immune function, advancing age, genetic risk
cancer prevention
modifying associated factors, removal of “at risk” issues, chemoprevention, vaccination, cancer screen guidelines
primary tumors
identified by the tissue from which it arose
secondary (metastatic) tumors
cells move from primary location = additional tumors
early warning signs
chance in bowel or bladder, lesion that does not heal, unusual bleeding or discharge, thickening of breast tissue, indigestion or difficulty swallowing, obvious changes in wart or mole, nagging cough
medical goals
curative, control, palliative
surgery is used for
diagnosis, staging, tumor removal/debulking, palliation
type of surgery determined by
extent of disease, location and structures involved, tumor growth rate, tumor invasiveness, surgical risk, quality of life expected post op
radiation therapy
purpose is to destroy cancer cells with minimal damaging effects to surrounding cells
local treatment
ionizing radiation
exposure - amount of radiation delivered
radiation dose - amount absorbed
