Understanding Cancer Flashcards
Different kinds of cancer
-Carcinoma
-Sarcoma
-Lymphoma
-Leukemia
Carcinomas
-Most common type of cancer
-Arise from the cells that cover external and internal body surfaces
-Lung, breast, and colon are the most frequent cancers of this type in the U.S.
Sarcomas
-Cancers arising from cells found in the supporting tissues of the body
-Bones, cartilage, fat, connective tissue, and muscle
Lymphomas
-Arise in the lymph nodes and tissues of the body’s immune system
Leukemia
-Cancers of the immature blood cells that grow in bone marrow
-Tend to accumulate in large numbers in the blood stream
Clonal Proliferation
The tumor cells all contain the mutations that allowed them to undergo unchecked proliferation without cell cycle arrest or apoptosis
Invasion
Cancer cells grow into surrounding tissues and blood vessels
Metastasis
-Cancer cells are transported by the circulatory system to distant sites
-Cancer cells invade and grow at new location
Benign Tumor
-Not cancer
-Tumor cells grow only locally and cannot spread by invasion or metastasis
Malignant Tumor
-Cancer
-Cells invade neighboring tissues, enter blood vessels, and metastasize to different sites
Benign Characteristics
-Slow growth
-Well differentiated (cellular composition)
-Looks like original tissue
-Well defined capsule
-No metastais
Malignant Characteristics
-Rapid growth
-Frequent cell division/mitosis
-Poorly differentiated
-Not encapsulated
-Invades local tissues
-Spreads easily (blood and lymphatics)
How many stages of cancer metastasis?
Four
Stage 1
Cancer confined to organ of origin
Stage 2
Cancer is locally invasive
