Part 2: Cost of Cancer

ACS stands for

American Cancer Society

According to the ACS healthcare costs have been rising dramatically due to 3 factors. List them.

1. infectious diseases being replaced/ outnumbered by lifestyle related chronic diseases like cancer

2. The aging (“graying”) of America

3. The high cost of medical technology

NCI stats: Cancer care is ~___% of all healthcare costs

5%

According to the ACS what is another factor that can affect overall cost of treatment that is related to cancer prevention and controll?

Significant delays between gaining new knowledge (and tests) and implementing that knowledge / tests

Give 3 example of the delays of tests/ knowledge and their implementation

1. Papanicolaou (pap) smear: perfected in 1943 → implemented 1970s

2. mammograms: available 1950s → promoted in the 1980s

3. Surgeon general warned about hazards of smoking in 1964→ 1980s tobacco initiatives implemented

term. Epidemiology

def. the study of the demographics of disease

def. the study of the distribution of and determinants of disease and injuries in human populations

term. epidemiology

In what group of people is cancer most prevalent in?

minority groups, specially African Americans

Why is cancer most prevalent in minority groups? (5 reasons)

1. They are more exposed to risk factors→ specially those related to tobacco use and diet

2. They are poor, less educated

3. deprived of safe & healthy environment

4. less likely to have health insurance

5. less likely to seek medical care

term. Etiology

def. the study of the cause of disease

What causes cancer initiation

the mutations in genes that cause abnormal and uncontrolled cellular differentiation include:

mutations in genes that:

1. promote growth→ force the growth of cells

2. suppress growth → allow for the uncontrolled cellular growth

For many tumors, BOTH mutations may be required for full malignancy

term. Oncogenes

def. cancer causing genes

How many oncogenes have we identified?

over 200

3 cancers that are primarily linked to genetics?

1. Breast CA

2. Colon CA

3. Retinoblastoma

The average adult has ____cancer cells in the body at any given time

1M

If we have ~1M cancer cells in the body at any given time, how come we don’t get cancer?

The immune system is able to get rid of them

That is why some people believe cancer is a weakness/ deficiency in the immune system & it’s ability to identify and fight off cancer cells

term. Proto-oncogenes

def. genes that are responsible for controlling cellular proliferation

anti-oncogenes aka

1. tumor suppressor genes

2. anti-neogenes

How can proto-oncogenes become cancer (i.e. result in a malignancy?

term. Prognosis

def. the probable outcome of disease

term. Carcinogen

def. a cancer causing agent

term. carcinogenesis

def. cancer formation/ production