1. Cancer
“Mitosis Gone Wild”

2. What is Cancer? Uncontrolled cellular division of abnormal cells
Caused by the genetic code in the cell’s DNA
Crowds out the healthy cells and can start to spread to other parts of the body – METASTASIZE
Hundreds of different varieties

3. Cancer Cell Growth
Occurs in any part of an animal or plant where cells are growing and dividing
CONTACT INHIBITION
Normal cells form one layer.
Replication or cell division
stops upon contact with
neighboring cells
Cancer cells DO NOT have
contact inhibition, so they
“pile up” on each other forming
tumors or “clumped cells”

4. Tumors BENIGN MALIGNANT No serious health problems Grow slowly
Non-invasive
Are NOT carried by blood
Easily removable
NOT considered Cancer
MALIGNANT
Very serious health problems
Rapid growth
Invasive – pushes into surrounding normal tissue
Can be carried by blood or lymph to other areas of the body = METASTASIS
Not as easy to remove
Cancer!

5. What causes cancer? Everyone has pre-cancerous cells
Continual irritation of these pre-cancerous cells triggers the development of cancer
More than 80% of cancers are caused by exposure to CARCINOGENS (substances that promote the development of cancer)
Chemicals
Radiation (x-rays, UV light)
Viruses (herpes simplex 1 & 2 linked to cervical cancer)

6. Stages of Cancer Describes how far cancer has spread
Stage I – small, localized, usually curable
Stage II – larger tumor, lymph may be affected
Stage III – even larger tumor, lymph affected
Stage IV – usually inoperable, metastasis

7. Stages of Cancer - TNM TNM Staging – more precise system
T = Tumor (T0-T4 depends on size, invasiveness)
N = Nodes (N0-N4 indicates lymph involvement)
M = Metastasis (M0 or M1)
Examples: T1N1M0
T3N4M1

8. Types of Cancer
Carcinomas – epithelial cells (skin or tissue lining) *Most cancers – breast, stomach, lung, prostate, colon
Melanoma – pigment producing cells (moles)
Lymphomas – lymphatic tissue
Sarcoma – bone, muscle, fat, connective tissue *Rare (~2% of cancers)
Leukemia – blood/bone marrow

9. Skin Cancer – Melanoma

10. Treatments Surgery – removal of a localized tumor
Number 1 option
Can stop cancer from spreading
Usually followed by radiation or chemotherapy
Radiation – damages cancer cells (but also damages surrounding healthy cells)
Chemotherapy – strong doses of chemicals are used to kill cancerous cells
Given orally or through injections

11. Treatments Immunotherapy
Kill cancer cells by using chemicals such as interferon (naturally occurring in our body) to help stimulate our immune system to fight
Vaccine – also used to stimulate immune system

12. Treatments Hormone Treatment Bone Marrow Transplant Alternative
Reduces the amount of hormones produced in the body which can decrease the rate at which cancer can spread (breast, prostate, uterine)
Bone Marrow Transplant
Replace bone marrow to begin new production of red blood cells
Alternative
Diet
Acupuncture (for minimizing pain, post operative swelling, vomiting from chemo)
Hyperthermia – heat to destroy cancer cells

13. Prevention of Cancer Major Risk Factors Smoking Tobacco UV exposure
1/3 of ALL cancer deaths in US caused by tobacco smoke
UV exposure
Diet & Lack of Exercise
overconsumption of alcohol, fat, and foods that have been smoked, cured, pickled, or charred
Lack of dietary fiber or antioxidant vitamins and minerals
Radiation (x-rays, radioactive substances)
CARCINOGENS – chemicals that increase cancer risk (asbestos, uranium, radon, cadmium)

14. Are you at risk?
Everyone's cancer risk profile is complex and unique – genetics, environment, and lifestyle choices all factor in to your chance of developing cancer!