1. Station 1- Breast Cancer (Females Only!)
Anything that increases the chance of developing a disease is called a risk factor.
Risk factors for breast cancer include the following:
Age (older = more risk)
age at the start of menstruation (younger = more risk)
age at which you have your first child (older = more risk)
number of first-degree relatives (mother, sisters, daughters) with breast cancer (more = more risk)
number of previous breast biopsies (whether positive or negative) (more = more risk)
at least one breast biopsy with abnormal tissue present (more = more risk)
Other potential risk factors may include the following:
age at menopause
dense breast tissue on a mammogram
use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy
a high-fat diet
drinking alcohol
low physical activity
obesity
environmental exposures  
Breast cancer may also be caused by inherited gene mutations. Hereditary breast cancers account for approximately 5% to 10% of all breast cancers. Specific hereditary predispositions for breast cancer are linked to inheriting a mutation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.

2. Female breast cancer survival rates at different stages (2003-2009)
Definition
Stage 0
Cancer is where it started and not spreading
Stage I
Stage II
Stage III
Higher numbers indicate more extensive disease: Larger tumor size and/or spread of the cancer beyond the organ in which it first developed to nearby lymph nodes and/or tissues or organs adjacent to the location of the primary tumor
Stage IV
The cancer has spread to distant tissues or organs

3. A.Why might a woman want to be tested for this gene?
Station 1 Questions:
Genetic testing is now available to determine if a woman has inherited the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, which increases their chance of developing cancer.
A.Why might a woman want to be tested for this gene?
B. Why might a woman choose not to be tested for this gene? 
C. If you are a female, would you want to be tested? Why? 
2. Look at the provided data
A. Describe the trend in breast cancer survival rates and stage in which cancer is detected.
B. Why is early detection so important?
C. What are some methods of early detection?
3. Breast self-exams are one method of early detection, we’d like all of our female students to read the instructions for performing self-exams. Use the models of breasts to practice finding lumps.

4. Station 1 – Testicular Cancer (Males Only!)
Most testicular cancers are found by men themselves. Also, doctors generally examine the testicles during routine physical exams. Between regular checkups, if a man notices anything unusual about his testicles, he should talk with his doctor. Men should see a doctor if they notice any of the following symptoms:
a painless lump or swelling in a testicle
pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum
any enlargement of a testicle or change in the way it feels
a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
a dull ache in the lower abdomen, back, or groin
a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
These symptoms can be caused by cancer or by other conditions. It is important to see a doctor to determine the cause of any of these symptoms.

5. Look at the provided data to answer the following questions:
At what age is a man most likely to be diagnosed with testicular cancer?
Describe the trend in testicular cancer survival rates and stage in which cancer is detected.
Why is early detection so important?
What are some methods of early detection?
Because most testicular cancers are found by men themselves, we’d like of our male students to read the instructions for performing self exams. Use the models of testes to practice finding testicular lumps.

6. Localized - Confined to Primary Site
Testicular cancer survival rates at different stages ( )
Localized - Confined to Primary Site
Regional - Spread to Regional Lymph Nodes
Distant - Cancer Has Metastasized
Unstaged - Unknown

7. Station 2
Why is it important for scientist who research cancer to have this type of data?
In terms of funding, how would you suggest the funds to be allocated?
Why might the population have differences in opinions as which types of cancer research their tax dollars should go towards?
Looking at the data draw a conclusion about cancer incident rate vs. cancer death rate.
Give a possible reason for this conclusion.
4. Using 2 different sets of data draw one conclusion (inference). (Ex: Based on the higher lung and bronchus cancer rates in males than females, males must smoke than females)

8. Station 2
Lung cancer is by far the most common cancer in men (28%), followed by prostate (10%), and colon & rectum (9%). In women, lung (26%), breast (14%), and colon & rectum (9%) are the leading sites of cancer death.

9. Cancer Incidence Rates* Among Men, US, 1975-2009
Incidence rates of prostate cancer have changed substantially over the past 20 years: rapidly increasing from 1988 to 1992, declining sharply from 1992 to 1995, remaining stable from 1995 to 2000, and decreasing (on average) from 2000 to This erratic trend primarily reflects changing patterns in the utilization of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood testing for the detection of prostate cancer. Incidence rates for both lung and colorectal cancers in men have been declining for many decades, while rates for liver and thyroid cancers and melanoma are increasing.

10. Cancer Death Rates* Among Men, US,1930-2009
Most of the increase in overall cancer death rates for men prior to 1990 was attributable to the rapid increase in lung cancer deaths due to the tobacco epidemic. However, since 1990, the lung cancer death rate in men has been decreasing; this decline has accounted for nearly 40% of the overall decrease in cancer death rates in men. The death rate for stomach cancer, which was the leading cause of cancer death among men early in the 20th century, has decreased by 90% since Death rates for prostate and colorectal cancers have been declining since the early 1990s and 1980s, respectively.

11. Cancer Incidence Rates* Among Women, US, 1975-2009
Breast cancer incidence rates in women have been relatively stable since dramatically decreasing from 2002 to 2003, attributed primarily to a reduction in use of hormone replacement therapy. Lung cancer rates have begun to level off after increasing steadily since at least Colorectal cancer incidence rates have been decreasing rapidly, by 2.1% per year since 1998.

12. Cancer Death Rates* Among Women, US,1930-2009
The lung cancer death rate in women began declining in the early 2000s after increasing for the previous 70 years. The lag in the decline in lung cancer in women compared to men reflects differences in smoking patterns; smoking rates peaked about two decades later in women than in men and women lagged behind men in quitting smoking in large numbers. In comparison, breast cancer death rates changed little between 1930 and 1990, but decreased 33% between the peak year (1989) and Since 1930, the death rate for stomach cancer has decreased by more than 90%. The death rate for uterine cancer, which was the leading cause of cancer death in the early 20th century, declined from 1930 to 1997, but has since been fairly stable. Colorectal cancer death rates have been decreasing for more than 50 years.

13. Station 3 – Smoking
Look at the information on the lab bench and answer the following questions:
What is the relationship between smoking and cancer death rates?
What type of cancer is most directly caused by smoking?
Why is smoking not just a personal health issue? Why is it also a social issue?
Do you think it is important for the government to enforce tobacco control efforts (i.e. city smoking bans, smoking age, etc.)? Explain why or why not?

16. Trends in Tobacco Use and Lung Cancer Death Rates* in the US
Tobacco use is a major preventable cause of death, particularly from lung cancer. The release of the first Surgeon General’s report on Tobacco and Health in 1964 initiated a decline in per capita cigarette consumption in the United States. However, lung cancer death rates in men did not begin to decrease until 1990 because of the 40 to 50 year average delay from exposure to cancer occurrence. The lung cancer death rate among US women, who both began smoking and quit smoking in large numbers later than men, began to decrease in the early 2000s after increasing for many decades.

18. Reduction in cigarette smoking among youth is an important factor in reducing prevalence and addiction in adulthood. Smoking among high school students peaked in the late 1990s and has since been declining, though the rate of decline has slowed since 2007.
It is thought that the increase in smoking from 1991 to 1997 is a reflection of increased expenditures on aggressive youth-targeted marketing and promotions by tobacco companies during the early 1990s.
The subsequent decline is thought to be due to increased price of cigarettes as well as comprehensive tobacco control efforts. However, slower rate of decline in recent years may reflect increased tobacco industry marketing expenditures and promotions and declines in funding for comprehensive tobacco control programs. Patterns were similar for all racial/ethnic groups.

19. Station 4
Living a healthy lifestyle (ie healthy diet and exercise) are know to reduce the risk of cancer. Using the data answer the following questions:
What is the relationship between healthy lifestyle and amount of education.
What might be some explanations for this relationship?
Why might this be a social issue?

20. Prevalence of Leisure-time Inactivity
Prevalence of Leisure-time Inactivity* by Educational Attainment, Adults 25 and Older, US, 2011
The American Cancer Society recommends that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week. The 2008 Federal Physical Activity Guidelines are similar to the ACS recommendations, with an additional recommendation for muscle-strengthening activities that are moderate or high intensity and involve all major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week. In 2011, roughly 40% of adults 25 years and older were physically inactive. There was significantly more physical inactivity among non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic whites. In addition, less educated adults are more likely to be physically inactive than more educated adults in every racial/ethnic group.

21. Consumption of Three or More Vegetable Servings by Educational Attainment, Adults 25 and Older, US, 2011
The American Cancer Society recommends that individuals eat at least 2.5 cups of vegetables and fruits a day for cancer prevention. About 15% of adults 25 years and older consumed recommended vegetables servings in 2011 with significantly lower vegetable consumption among African Americans compared to whites. In general, less educated adults were less likely than more educated adults to consume the recommended servings of vegetables, though this did not hold true among Hispanics.

22. Consumption of Two or More Fruit Servings by Educational Attainment, Adults 25 and Older, US, 2011
The American Cancer Society recommends that individuals eat at least 2.5 cups of vegetables and fruits a day for cancer prevention. About one in three adults 25 years and older consumed the recommended fruit servings in 2011, regardless of racial/ethnicity. Similar to vegetable consumption, less educated adults were less likely than those who were more educated to consume 2 or more fruit servings with the exception of Hispanics.

23. Station 5
Early detection methods are available for most types of cancer, however, some of these tests/early detection methods can be quite expensive if you don’t have health insurance. Refer to the data at the table and answer the following questions:
What trends do you see in health insurance status and use of early detection methods.
What are some potential problems for our society if individuals don’t have the ability to utilize early detection methods?

24. Trends in Annual Mammography Use by Health Insurance Status, US, 2000-2010
Between 2000 and 2010, the percentage of women 40 and older who received a mammogram within the past year substantially decreased among uninsured women (from 28% to 17%), while remaining fairly stable among insured women.

25. Trends in Pap Test Prevalence
Trends in Pap Test Prevalence* by Health Insurance Status, US,
Throughout the past decade, the percentage of women who had a Pap test within the past three years was at least 20% points lower among uninsured women than among women with health insurance.

26. Trends in the Prevalence of Fecal Occult Blood Test
Trends in the Prevalence of Fecal Occult Blood Test* by Health Insurance Status, US,
Despite increasing utilization of colorectal cancer screening in the US over the past decade, rates of fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) have decreased rapidly. In 2010, approximately 9% of US adults 50 and older had an FOBT in the previous year. In contrast, the use of colonoscopy has increased substantially since 2000; in % of men and women 50 and older reported having a colonoscopy in the past 10 years or a sigmoidoscopy in the past 5 years.
(Trends in endoscopy use for colorectal cancer screening could not be shown because estimates for 2010 are not comparable to those of previous years due to revisions to this question in the National Health Interview Survey.)

27. Flexible Sigmoidoscopy or Colonoscopy Prevalence
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy or Colonoscopy Prevalence* by Race/Ethnicity and Health Insurance Status, US, 2010
This slide highlights the striking differences in the use of CRC screening endoscopy between insured and uninsured individuals, regardless of race and ethnicity. In 2010, the prevalence of recent endoscopy among uninsured adults in all race and ethnic groups was about 3-4 times lower than that among the insured.

28. Station 6
Look at the skin cancer fact sheet and write down four facts that you found most interesting.
Examine the mole model/picture to practice looking for the warning signs. Notice how the cancerous moles exhibit irregular borders deeper in the skin. Do you have any moles that resemble these?
List three problems that UV rays can cause.
What are two ways that you can protect yourself from skin cancer?

31. Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor involving the skin cell pigment producing melanin. Moles can resemble malignant melanomas that are the most dangerous type of the skin cancers and can spread rapidly. One feature of melanomas is easy injury with bleeding, however there are other characteristics that could indicate melanoma. The good news is that if caught early enough and treated, melanoma is curable. Many people have moles, and most moles are not cancerous and do not cause a problem. A mole that exhibits any of the characteristics outlined below should be evaluated immediately by your primary physician or a dermatologist. The basic ABCDE warning signs to determine whether a mole is a melanoma are as follows: A. Asymmetry: one half unlike the other half B. Border Irregularity: irregular, scalloped, poorly defined C. Color: varied from one area to another, shades of tan and brown, black; Sometimes white, red or blue D. Diameter: greater than 6mm, but can be smaller E. Evolving: looks different from the rest or changing in size, shape, color In addition, there are other features of melanoma such as surface changes (bleeding, oozing, scaliness) or signs of itchiness, pain, or tenderness. After examining the mole, if your doctor thinks the mole is a melanoma, then a biopsy will be performed for further analysis.