Wk 9: Intro to cancer Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 5 types of cancer cell types?
A
- Carcinoma
- Sarcoma
- Leukaemia
- Lymphoma + myeloma
- Brain + spinal cord
2
Q
What is carcinoma?
A
- Begins in skin/tissue that cover or line internal organs
- Most common
3
Q
What are the subtypes of carcinoma?
A
- Adenocarcinoma (fluid/mucus prod - breast, prostate, colon)
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
4
Q
What is sarcoma?
A
- Begins in connective/supportive tissues (bone, cartilage, fat, muscle or blood vessels)
- Least common
5
Q
What is leukaemia?
A
- Cancer of leukocytes
- Common in children
6
Q
What is lymphoma + myeloma?
A
- Begins in immune system (lymph glands)
- Or plasma cells
7
Q
What is brain + spinal cord cancers?
A
Develop from glial cells
8
Q
Define metastasis
A
Cancer invades + destroys other areas of body
9
Q
Outline the process of metastasis
A
- Primary tumour formation
- Local invasion
- Intravasation (enters blood supply)
- Survive in circulation
- Arrest at distant organ site
- Extravasation
- Micrometastasis formation
- Metastatic colonization
10
Q
Give examples of routes of spread
A
- Surrounding tissues
- Blood stream
- Lymphatic vessels
11
Q
What are the most common sites for cancers to metastasis?
A
- Brain (vision + memory loss)
- Bones (causes bone break down leading to hypercalcemia)
- Lungs (obstruction)
- Liver (jaundice)
12
Q
Which cancers have the lowest survival rates + why?
A
Lung + pancreatic bc presents later during metastasis
13
Q
How do you stage cancer?
A
Solid tumours use TNM
- T: size + extent of primary tumour
- N: no. nearby lymph nodes that have cancer
- M: if cancer has metastasised
