Comprehensive Study Guide: Stress and Cancer Biology

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, neurobiology, physiological pathways, epidemiology, and clinical concepts from Topic 5 (Cancer) and Topic 6 (Stress).

Stressor

A potential external event, demand, or stimulus that is evaluated by the brain and can trigger a physiological or psychological stress response.

Stress

A physiological and behavioral response conceptualized by Lazarus as being determined by cognitive appraisal of a potential stressor.

Lazarus's Conceptualization of Stress

The model proposing that whether an event is stressful is determined by an individual's cognitive appraisal of the potential stressor and available resources.

Neuroplasticity

The structural and functional plasticity of the brain, including changes in areas such as the amygdala that can be influenced by negative events and stress.

Amygdala

The brain structure that perceives danger, reacts faster than the prefrontal cortex (PFC), signals the hypothalamus to initiate a stress response, and can respond without input from the PFC.

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

The brain region that regulates and dampens amygdala activity to reduce the stress response, but whose function can be impaired by chronic stress.

Hypothalamus

The brain structure signaled by the amygdala during perceived danger that activates two primary systems of the stress response, one responding faster than the other.

Negativity Bias

The innate tendency of the human brain to be naturally wired to attend to, process, and prioritize negative thoughts and stimuli.

Autonomic Nervous System (Stress Division)

The functional division of the nervous system activated during stress that initiates rapid, involuntary physiological reactions throughout the body.

Endocrine System

The system of glands activated during the stress response to release important regulatory stress hormones into the bloodstream.

Acute Stress vs. Chronic Stress

Acute stress is a short-term, immediate physiological reaction to an acute demand, whereas chronic stress is prolonged, ongoing activation that can damage structures like the PFC.

Optimal Arousal

An optimal level of stress-induced arousal that maximizes performance and functioning, which varies among individuals and allows for positive responses to moderate stress.

Pro-social Stress Response

A calming behavioral response to stress characterized by seeking social support, connection, and affiliation with others.

Anti-social Response

A maladaptive behavioral response to stress characterized by withdrawal, aggression, or hostility that undermines social support.

Resilience

The capacity to recover from, adapt to, or overcome stress, which can be strengthened by specific personality traits and coping mechanisms.

Reactivity

The magnitude and duration of an individual's physiological and psychological reaction to stressors, which is influenced by distinct personality traits.

Allostasis and Allostatic Load

Allostasis is the active process of maintaining stability through physiological change; allostatic load is the cumulative wear and tear on the body resulting from repeated or chronic stress.

TEDtalk "Make stress you friend"

A presentation outlining key takeaways on how reframing stress as helpful rather than harmful can improve physiological coping, social connection, and health outcomes.

Cancer

A major disease originating from a Greek word, characterized by uncontrolled abnormal cell growth and representing one of the leading causes of death in the US.

Carcinogen

A substance or agent capable of causing cancer in living tissue, which includes agents such as alcohol.

Malignant vs. Benign Tumor

A malignant tumor consists of cancerous cells capable of invading surrounding tissues and metastasizing, whereas a benign tumor is non-cancerous, localized, and non-invasive.

Hyperplasia and Dysplasia

Abnormal pre-cancerous tissue changes: hyperplasia involves an increase in the number of normal-appearing cells, while dysplasia involves the presence of abnormal, disordered cells.

Metastasis

The spread of cancer cells from their original primary site to distant tissues and organs through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

Cancer Staging

A classification system used to describe the extent of cancer in the body, based on tumor size, location, lymph node involvement, and metastasis.

Cancer Rates in Young People (15-49 yrs)

Epidemiological cancer occurrence in individuals aged $15\text{--}49\,\text{yrs}$, a cohort in which younger women have an $83\%$ higher rate of cancer than younger men.

Lung Cancer

The top cause of cancer deaths for both men and women, with smoking serving as the causative agent for a major percentage of all cases.

Exercise Prescription for Cancer Prevention

A preventive lifestyle intervention consisting of regular physical exercise for $30\,\text{min} / 5\,\text{days/week}$ to reduce cancer risk and enhance related physiological outcomes.

Phytochemicals, Antioxidants, and Free Radicals

Nutritional compounds and unstable molecules; dietary antioxidants and plant-derived phytochemicals neutralize free radicals to protect cells from oxidative damage linked to cancer.

ABCD Rule

A clinical guideline rule used for the early detection and evaluation of suspicious skin lesions for skin cancer.

CAUTION

A widely used medical acronym where each letter stands for a key early warning sign of cancer.

Integrative Oncology and Complementary Medicine

Integrative oncology combines conventional cancer therapies with complementary medicine (evidence-informed, non-mainstream supportive practices) to treat the whole patient.

Cancer Health Disparities

Adverse differences in cancer incidence, prevalence, mortality, and survivorship experienced by specific population groups that stakeholders work to reduce.

Stressor

A potential external event, demand, or stimulus that is evaluated by the brain and can trigger a physiological or psychological stress response.

Stress

A physiological and behavioral response conceptualized by Lazarus as being determined by cognitive appraisal of a potential stressor.

Lazarus's Conceptualization of Stress

The model proposing that whether an event is stressful is determined by an individual's cognitive appraisal of the potential stressor and available resources.

Neuroplasticity

The structural and functional plasticity of the brain, including changes in areas such as the amygdala that can be influenced by negative events and stress.

Amygdala

The brain structure that perceives danger, reacts faster than the prefrontal cortex (PFC), signals the hypothalamus to initiate a stress response, and can respond without input from the PFC.

Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

The brain region that regulates and dampens amygdala activity to reduce the stress response, but whose function can be impaired by chronic stress.

Hypothalamus

The brain structure signaled by the amygdala during perceived danger that activates two primary systems of the stress response, one responding faster than the other.

Negativity Bias

The innate tendency of the human brain to be naturally wired to attend to, process, and prioritize negative thoughts and stimuli.

Autonomic Nervous System (Stress Division)

The functional division of the nervous system activated during stress that initiates rapid, involuntary physiological reactions throughout the body.

Endocrine System

The system of glands activated during the stress response to release important regulatory stress hormones into the bloodstream.

Acute Stress vs. Chronic Stress

Acute stress is a short-term, immediate physiological reaction to an acute demand, whereas chronic stress is prolonged, ongoing activation that can damage structures like the PFC.

Optimal Arousal

An optimal level of stress-induced arousal that maximizes performance and functioning, which varies among individuals and allows for positive responses to moderate stress.

Pro-social Stress Response

A calming behavioral response to stress characterized by seeking social support, connection, and affiliation with others.

Anti-social Response

A maladaptive behavioral response to stress characterized by withdrawal, aggression, or hostility that undermines social support.

Resilience

The capacity to recover from, adapt to, or overcome stress, which can be strengthened by specific personality traits and coping mechanisms.

Reactivity

The magnitude and duration of an individual's physiological and psychological reaction to stressors, which is influenced by distinct personality traits.

Allostasis and Allostatic Load

Allostasis is the active process of maintaining stability through physiological change; allostatic load is the cumulative wear and tear on the body resulting from repeated or chronic stress.

TEDtalk "Make Stress Your Friend"

A presentation outlining key takeaways on how reframing stress as helpful rather than harmful can improve physiological coping, social connection, and health outcomes.

Cancer

A major disease originating from a Greek word, characterized by uncontrolled abnormal cell growth and representing one of the leading causes of death in the US.

Carcinogen

A substance or agent capable of causing cancer in living tissue, which includes agents such as alcohol.

Malignant vs. Benign Tumor

A malignant tumor consists of cancerous cells capable of invading surrounding tissues and metastasizing, whereas a benign tumor is non-cancerous, localized, and non-invasive.

Hyperplasia and Dysplasia

Abnormal pre-cancerous tissue changes: hyperplasia involves an increase in the number of normal-appearing cells, while dysplasia involves the presence of abnormal, disordered cells.

Metastasis

The spread of cancer cells from their original primary site to distant tissues and organs through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

Cancer Staging

A classification system used to describe the extent of cancer in the body, based on tumor size, location, lymph node involvement, and metastasis.

Cancer Rates in Young People (15-49 yrs)

Epidemiological cancer occurrence in individuals aged $15\text{--}49\,\text{yrs}$, a cohort in which younger women have an $83\%$ higher rate of cancer than younger men.

Lung Cancer

The top cause of cancer deaths for both men and women, with smoking serving as the causative agent for a major percentage of all cases.

Exercise Prescription for Cancer Prevention

A preventive lifestyle intervention consisting of regular physical exercise for $30\,\text{min} / 5\,\text{days/week}$ to reduce cancer risk and enhance related physiological outcomes.

Phytochemicals, Antioxidants, and Free Radicals

Nutritional compounds and unstable molecules; dietary antioxidants and plant-derived phytochemicals neutralize free radicals to protect cells from oxidative damage linked to cancer.

ABCD Rule

A clinical guideline rule used for the early detection and evaluation of suspicious skin lesions for skin cancer.

CAUTION

A widely used medical acronym where each letter stands for a key early warning sign of cancer.

Integrative Oncology and Complementary Medicine

Integrative oncology combines conventional cancer therapies with complementary medicine (evidence-informed, non-mainstream supportive practices) to treat the whole patient.

Cancer Health Disparities

Adverse differences in cancer incidence, prevalence, mortality, and survivorship experienced by specific population groups that stakeholders work to reduce.

Cardiovascular Pathway of Blood

Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium via the vena cava, moves into the right ventricle, and travels via pulmonary arteries to the lungs; oxygenated blood returns via pulmonary veins to the left atrium, moves to the left ventricle, and is pumped out to systemic circulation via the aorta.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

The natural biological pacemaker of the heart, located in the superior wall of the right atrium, responsible for generating rhythmic spontaneous electrical impulses.

Systole vs. Diastole

Systole represents the ventricular contraction phase exerting maximum pressure on arterial walls (systolic pressure), whereas diastole represents the ventricular relaxation and filling phase exerting minimum resting pressure (diastolic pressure).

Vascular Network: Arteries, Arterioles, Capillaries, Venules, and Veins

Arteries transport oxygenated blood away from the heart under high pressure into arterioles; capillaries facilitate gas and nutrient exchange at tissues; venules drain capillaries and coalesce into veins, returning low-pressure deoxygenated blood to the heart.

Disproportionate Mortality and Morbidity Groups for CVD

Populations with heightened vulnerability to cardiovascular disease, including older demographic age cohorts, low socioeconomic status groups, specific racial and ethnic minorities, individuals in medically underserved geographic areas, and sexual and gender minority groups.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in CVD

Black or African American populations experience markedly higher rates of CVD incidence and mortality compared to other racial groups, while Asian American populations statistically demonstrate lower rates of CVD mortality.

Psychosocial Stressors and LGBTQ+ CVD Risk

Elevated rates of cardiovascular disease observed in sexual and gender minority groups, driven primarily by minority stress, chronic discrimination, societal prejudice, and barriers to equitable healthcare.

Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) in CVD

Non-clinical environmental and social variables (including economic stability, educational attainment, food security, and physical environment) that drive cardiovascular disparities, largely structured by systemic resource distribution and public policy.

Atherosclerosis

The primary pathological driver of many cardiovascular conditions, characterized by arterial endothelial damage, lipid deposition, immune cell accumulation, and progressive fibrous plaque buildup narrowing vessel lumens.

Three Major Forms of CVD

Coronary artery disease (CAD/heart attack), cerebrovascular disease (stroke), and peripheral artery disease (PAD) or chronic heart failure.

Modifiable vs. Non-Modifiable CVD Risk Factors

Modifiable risks include cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, atherogenic diet, hypertension, obesity, and dyslipidemia; non-modifiable risks include advancing age, biological sex, and genetic family history.

Hypertension ("The Silent Killer")

A persistent chronic elevation of systemic arterial blood pressure ($130/80\,\text{mmHg}$ or higher), referred to as the 'silent killer' because it typically progresses without overt symptoms while causing irreversible vascular, cardiac, and renal damage.

Cholesterol: LDL vs. HDL

Lipoproteins responsible for lipid transport: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) delivers cholesterol to peripheral vessels contributing to atheroma formation, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) clears cholesterol back to the liver; dietary intake of cholesterol has a lesser impact on serum levels than dietary saturated and trans fatty acids.