Is Cancer Really that Dangerous? Cause of Death Lifetime odds of dying Car Crash1 in 242 Drowning1 in 1,028 Plane Crash1 in 4,608 Lightning1 in 71,501 Dog Bite1 in 137,694 Venomous spider1 in 716,010 Cancer 1 in 5

Cells in our Body Regulate Themselves Oncogenes – regulate cells to grow Tumor Suppressor Genes – regulate cells to stop growing Cell suicide! 

Cells in our body regulate themselves Cancer cells are just our “normal” cells that become mutated and don’t stop growing! - Thankfully, it takes more than one mutation!

Cells in our Body Regulate Themselves Tumors may contain 100 Billion cells! Tumors may contain 100 Billion cells! Crayola crayons stacked end to end to the moon and back 12 times! N.Y. to L.A times, around Equator 240 times!

Cells in our Body Regulate Themselves

Basically, Any Tissue in the Body Can Become Cancerous Cancer is expensive!! -$107 Billion / year - Breast, lung, and prostate account for over half by themselves!

Leukemia Overview Cancer of the blood and bone marrow Cancer of the blood and bone marrow Characterized by the uncontrolled accumulation of non- functional blood cells Characterized by the uncontrolled accumulation of non- functional blood cells Leukemia is one cancer that doesn’t form tumors…the problem is restricted to abnormal blood cells in the circulatory system Leukemia is one cancer that doesn’t form tumors…the problem is restricted to abnormal blood cells in the circulatory system

Several Kinds of Leukemia Classified into 2 forms: Classified into 2 forms: Acute: Rapid growth of immature blood cells. Extremely dangerous form, death within weeks or months. Acute: Rapid growth of immature blood cells. Extremely dangerous form, death within weeks or months. Chronic: Mature, but still abnormal blood cells build up. Not as severe, not always treated. Chronic: Mature, but still abnormal blood cells build up. Not as severe, not always treated.

Several Kinds of Leukemia Leukemia has 4 different types, depending on the type of abnormal blood cell present One kind, ALL, is most often found in children <20 years old One kind, ALL, is most often found in children <20 years old The other three kinds are most commonly found in adults The other three kinds are most commonly found in adults

Major Symptoms Decreased white blood cells Decreased white blood cells Results in greater risk of infection, similar to HIV Results in greater risk of infection, similar to HIV Decreased platelets (blood clotting) Decreased platelets (blood clotting) Results in easier bruising and bleeding Results in easier bruising and bleeding Anemia, deficiency of red blood cells Anemia, deficiency of red blood cells Occurs in almost all Leukemia patients Occurs in almost all Leukemia patients

Treatment Leukemia is a hard disease to treat… Leukemia is a hard disease to treat… Chemotherapy may be used on some forms, but not others (age, etc. of patient important) Chemotherapy may be used on some forms, but not others (age, etc. of patient important) Drugs such as imatinib, or EPO Drugs such as imatinib, or EPO Bone Marrow Transplants are an option, but risky Bone Marrow Transplants are an option, but risky

Very Common? Leukemia is the second leading cause of death in children <20, behind accidents Leukemia is the second leading cause of death in children <20, behind accidents 1-4 year olds are 10x more likely to develop Leukemia than year olds 1-4 year olds are 10x more likely to develop Leukemia than year olds Survival rate for 1-4 year old with ALL is 88.4%! Survival rate for 1-4 year old with ALL is 88.4%! In 1960, it was ~14%! In 1960, it was ~14%!

The End!!!