1. National Cancer Institute
Understanding Cancer and Related Topics
Understanding Cancer
What Is Cancer?
Cancer is not just one disease, but many diseases – over 200 different types of cancers
Cancer is a renegade system of growth that originates within a patient’s biosystem, more commonly known as the human body. There are many different types of cancers, but all share one hallmark characteristic: unchecked growth that progresses toward limitless expansion.
It is difficult to imagine anyone who has not heard of this illness. Most people have been affected because either they or their loved ones or friends are cancer survivors.
Because cancer is so prevalent, people have many questions about its biology, detection, diagnosis, possible causes, and strategies for prevention.
NCI Web site:

2. 584,000
deaths in 2014

3. ESTIMATED DEATHS - MALE

4. ESTIMATED DEATHS

5. Cell DIVISION TIMELINE
Normal body cells grow, divide
and die in an orderly fashion
All Cells have a varying life span
Quick Dividing Cells: Skin, digestive system cells
Slow dividing cells – liver pancreas
Muscle Cells, Heart Cells, Brain Cells
Rarely divide

7. Cells divide at different rates
Cell Division
Frequency of Cell Division
Cell Type
Approximate Life Span
Skin Cells
2 weeks
12 to 24 hours
Red Blood Cells
4 months
Derived from stem cells in red bone marrow (erythropoietin) – triggered by low oxygen to make more
Intestines
4 to 5 days
Liver Cells
300 to 500 days
Once a year
Muscle cells in intestines
16 to 18 years
Rarely
Brain/Nerve
Many
Embryo
Every 20 minutes

8. CELL CYLCE –What could go wrong w/ steps

9. Cell Division Checkpoints

10. Cancer Definition Uncontrolled Cell Growth
Failure of cell cycle control Points
Failure to Repair DNA

11. Failure of Cell Division Check Points
If DNA Cannot Repair Itself or if Cell Check Points Fail
Autolysis or apoptosis is the last resort to prevent a cell from getting out of control
Cancer – if DNA damage interferes with cell death or encourages out-of- control cell division

13. Examples of Carcinogens
Chemicals – radon gas, cigarettes, formaldehyde, asbestos, mustard gas, benzene (CDC lists approximately 1,000 potential carcinogens
Radiation – UV rays for the sun, sunlamps, X-rays,
Viruses –
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)- causes cervical, vaginal, penile, and certain head and neck cancers,
Epstein-Barr (mononucleosis) linked to lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes),
Hepatitis B and C (liver cancer)

14. DNA controls all cell activities including cell division
Cell Division Control
DNA controls all cell activities including cell division
Some cells lose their ability to control their rate of cell division – the DNA of these cells has become damaged or changed (mutated)
These super-dividing cells form masses called tumors
Cyclins – Proteins that initiate cell division
Oncogenes – genes with potential to cause cancer – Stuck On/gas pedal
P53 Genes promote cell growth (On or gas pedal) tumor suppressor genes inhibit cell division and survival. (off or brake)
 Oncogenes are genes that promote cell growth and reproduction. Tumor suppressor genes are genes that inhibit cell division and survival. Malignant transformation can occur through the formation of novel oncogenes, the inappropriate over-expression of normal oncogenes, or by the under-expression or disabling of tumor suppressor genes. Typically, changes in many genes are required to transform a normal cell into a cancer cell.[62]

16. Tumor – solid growth or mass of cells from uncontrolled cell growth

17. Most of these cancer cells are removed surgically
Most of these cancer cells are removed surgically. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area and the cancer is scooped out.

18. Tumors
A large ductal carcinoma
In a mastectomy specimen

19. Spreading of Cancer Cells
Benign tumors are not cancerous – these cells do not spread to other parts of the body
Malignant tumors are cancerous – these cells break loose and can invade and destroy healthy tissue in other parts of the body (called metastasis)
Spreading of Cancer Cells

20. National Cancer Institute
Understanding Cancer and Related Topics
Understanding Cancer
ANGIOGENESIS
Benign (not cancer) tumor cells grow only locally and cannot spread by invasion or metastasis
l (cancer) cells invade neighboring tissues, enter blood vessels, and metastasize to different sites
Angio- enclosed by a seed or
Vessel
Genesis – new
Blood supply to the tumor allowing
The tumor/cancer cells to spread
Malignant
Depending on whether or not they can spread by invasion and metastasis, tumors are classified as being either benign or malignant. Benign tumors are tumors that cannot spread by invasion or metastasis; hence, they only grow locally. Malignant tumors are tumors that are capable of spreading by invasion and metastasis. By definition, the term “cancer” applies only to malignant tumors.
Time
NCI Web site:

21. CANCER WARNING SIGNS Changes in bowel or bladder habits
Sore that will not heal
Unusual bleeding
Thickening or a lump in the breast or somewhere else
Chronic indigestion
Obvious change in a mole
Nagging cough
Also look for extreme tiredness, weight loss, fever and sometimes pain

22. Diagnosis of Cancer Cells
Patient History-
MRI, X-rays, CT, ultrasounds to “look” inside the body to identify location and size of tumor
Biopsy is performed- removal of sample tissue for a specialist to check for cancer cells- look for abnormalities.
Determine if the cancer has spread to other organs- metastasis of malignant tumor. - blood or lymph testing can indicate spread of cancer – if cancer cells are present
Patients will visit and oncologist- doctor who examines tissue for diseases like cancer
Remission – period of time when the cancer is responding to treatment or is under control

23. STAGING OF CANCER
Generally, the lower the stage, the less advanced the cancer is and the better the treatment outcome is likely to be.
Stage 0 = pre-cancer
Stage 1 = small cancer found only in the organ where it started
Stage 2 = larger cancer that may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes
Stage 3 = larger cancer that is also in the lymph nodes
Stage 4 = cancer in a different organ from where it started

25. SKIN CANCERS
Most common types include squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma (both benign) and melanoma (malignant)
3.5 million cases of basal and squamous cell carcinomas each year in the U.S.
Approximately 73,000 cases of melanoma each year in the U.S.- w/ about 10,000 deaths
Approximately 13,000 skin cancer deaths (10,000 from melanoma)

26. ABCDE RULES FOR MOLES

27. This 28 year old woman had a smaller melanoma on her neck.

28. Do not mix some medications with sunlight.
An adverse reaction to sunlight can be a side effect of certain medications. This reaction is characterized by a rash, redness and/or swelling. Here are some of the medications that may cause a reaction:
Tetracycline
Retin A
Birth control pills
Antidepressants
Diuretics
anti-inflammatories

29. Breast– women mammograms – Age 40
Colon – Colonoscopy – women & men-Age 50
Prostate – men- age 50 – discuss to determine
Cervical – pap smears- women- age 21
Oral Cancer – dentists
Work Exposures – as needed

31. Cancer Treatments Surgery (removal of the tumor)
Radiation – targeting radiation
Chemotherapy –chemical substances – cytotoxic
Natural Options (research option)
Research- nanotechnology

33. Directions for Cancer Pamphlet
Research a specific type of cancer and create a pamphlet for this cancer
Name of the Cancer
Causes of the Cancer
Risk Factors of the Cancer
Death rate - treatability
How to lower risk factors of this cancer
Treatments of this cancer