Health Psychology Exam 4 pt 1- McMillen MSSTATE

How cancer develops

-begins with a mutation from cell division, will continue to replicate until removed

-most of the time a mutation will die, but it can become a neoplasm and cause growth

Cancer mortality trends since 1900 and reasons for these trends

steady increase because living longer so runs risk of developing cancer at older age

more sedentary, more cals more smoking all increased rates as well

started to decrease around 1990 because of decreased smoking, better treatment, and earlier detection

Three characterizing features of a malignant neoplasm

uncontrolled growth, invasion of other parts of body, metastasis (spreading to other parts of body)

The direct and indirect way in which cancer leads to death

-destroys vital organs and weakens person

-leads to no appetite and weak immune system

Most prevalent cancers among men and women

men: prostate, lung

women: breast, lung

Cancers with the highest mortality rates among men and women

lung cancer is by far more deadly than prostate and breast cancer

Cancer risk factors: inherent, modifiable behavioral risk factors, and psychosocial risk factors

inherent: advancing age (exposure to environment/carcinogens longer, cells create more mutation as age), genetics (not inevitable but should be cautious and partake in screening)

modifiable: smoking, foods, heavy alcohol consumption, UV radiation, HPV

psychosocial: asbestos, radiation, pollution/pesticides, HPV

Cancers with high and low 5 year survivability rates

high: breast, skin, prostate, testis, thyroid

low: esophagus, liver, lung, pancreas, stomach

around 1975, about only half survived cancers, has decreased since then because of earlier detection and better treatment. Treatments used to be so invasive that they were killing patients before killing cancer, but this has improved

The cancers that account for about half of all cancer deaths in the United States

lung cancer

Treatments for cancer

surgery: useful if easy to get to (breast, colon, lung. Lymph or blood are harder to locate/get to)

radiotherapy: alter body cells so doesn't keep reproducing (side effects include loss of hair, burning, nausea)

chemotherapy: oral/injection of drug to target cell production rapidly

immunotherapy and hormonal treatment: boost immune system to break down tumors, boost treatment

Regional differences in the incidence and death rates for cancer, role of environment, behavior, and access to health care in these differences

incidences: environmental factors (breathing in carcinogens) increase incidence rates but isn't guarantee to cause it

death rates: incidence rates, access to healthcare (affordability, screening), and geography all drive death rates. Geography also matters for increased risk for development/appropriate treatment of cancer

Define the four main groups of malignant growths

carcinomas: cancers of epithelial tissue (skin, breast, testicular); lining of organs

sarcomas: cancer of connective tissue

leukemias: cancer of blood

lymphoma: cancer of lymph system

How cancer is different than cardiovascular disease and diabetes

CVD and diabetes (type 2) are both preventable, cancer is not preventable although modifiable risk factors can be altered to prevent risk of all three diseases

CVD affects only the CV system, diabetes affects CV system/endocrine system, and cancer can affect any or every system/organ of the body

Define metastasis

spread of cancer cells beyond their original site

The role of primary and secondary prevention in cancer

primary: behavior prevention (smoking, alcohol, radiation)

secondary: screening to detect/treat, decreases death rates (blood or urine tests, radiological imaging like mammograms, biopsy)

Barriers to secondary prevention for cancer

cost, time

insurance now covers most tests like mammograms and biopsies

Contrast HIV to other infectious diseases

..

The scientific consensus on the origins of HIV

mariginalized populations began having AIDS and discovered disease around 1981

1982 labeled disease as AIDS

1984 virus was discovered that cause AIDS

1985 test for AIDS

1987 drug treatment for AIDS

origin: chimps in south Africa

The stages of HIV infection

1. acute infection: large amounts of virus are being produce in your body, considered 'worst flu ever'

2. clinical latency: HIV produces at very low levels, still active. May not have symptoms and can last up to 8 years or longer

3. AIDS/HIV infection: CD4 levels fall below 200 cells/mm3 you will be diagnosed at having AIDS. Without treatment typically people survive 3 years

The bodily fluids that can transmit HIV, which of these fluids have he highest concentration of HIV

blood and semen are highest viral loads

vaginal secretion and breast milk are lowest viral loads

The role of CD4 cells in AIDS

organize immune response system to foreign invader

normal levels are between 500-1500 cells/mm3

levels drop below 200 then considered to have AIDS

The criteria for a diagnosis of AIDS

spread through sexual contact, pregnancy, childbirth, and breast feeding, injection drug use, occupational exposure, or blood transfusion/organ transplant

CD4 levels below 200 cells/mm3

Trend patterns of HIV, AIDS, and deaths

highest in male homosexual intercourse

highest in female heterosexual intercourse

sharp increase of deaths and classifications from 1985-1993, then sudden drop and steady decrease

prevalence of people LIVING with AIDS increase steadily from 1985-present

decrease in deaths around 1993, cut number almost in half because of drug treatment (combination pills, injections)

Geographic disparities in HIV & AIDS

highest in southeastern part of US for diagnosis rate and prevalence

AIDS number not equally distributed across US

Modes of HIV transmission for males and females, and which modes are the most common

listed from most to least common

males: homosexual intercourse, heterosexual intercourse, infection drug use

females: heterosexual intercourse, infection drug use

Strategies for primary and the importance of secondary prevention

primary: education people on risks and try to prevent behavior of unprotected intercourse

secondary: encouraging people to get screened and know HIV status after intercourses

Geographic disparities in the US for HIV infection, AIDS, and deaths due to HIV infection

-rates of diagnosis and of people living with HIV higher in southeast region of US

-# that actually have stage 3 AIDS is not equally distributed across US

What is highly active antiretroviral therapy and what are the goals of this treatment?

-attack virus from multiple angles with combination pills

-1 pill instead of 30

-goal is to get in way of HIV replicating and mutating into more viral cells

Why are combination pills are such a game changer for treatment?

allows people to take 1 pill instead of 30 and still has the same effect

Treatments on the horizon

injections once or twice a month instead of pill everyday. would be easier than having to remember to take pill every day.

possible vaccine that prevents HIV

Population metrics for success in treating HIV infection

lower in southeast part of the country

86% diagnosed, 63% actually received care (showed up to Dr. once and didn't follow up), 49% retained in care (showed up to Dr. at least twice in past 3 months after diagnosis), 51% virally suppressed (viral load is so low that it won't spread to others, other 49% of this group are not engaging in follow-up and care)

14% of people living with HIV are not aware that they have it. This is why screening is important

PrEP & recent developments

reduces risk of virus after intercourse with person that has unknown HIV status by 92%. Taken daily to reduce risk of HIV

use is still too low, especially among blacks and hispanics

barrier: too expensive

Three strategies that would prevent the spread of HIV

1. people living with HIV know their HIV status (screening, tests)

2. people with HIV receive HAART therapy for viral suppression (combination pills, injection)

3. people at risk for contracting HIV take PrEP on daily basis