Fit & Well: Chapter 12

Cancer

Cancer definition

the abnormal, uncontrolled multiplication of cells; causes 1 in 4 deaths in the United States, and is the second leading cause of death after heart disease

Tumor definition

Tumor: a mass of tissue that serves no purpose, also called a neoplasm

Benign tumor definition

Benign tumor: a tumor that is not cancerous

Malignant tumor definition

Malignant tumor: a tumor that is cancerous and capable of spreading, can invade surrounding structures like blood vessels, the lymphatic system, and nerves

Lymphatic system definition

Lymphatic system: a system of vessels that returns proteins, lipids, and other substances from fluid in the tissues to the circulatory system

How cancer works

How cancer works: a cell changes, allowing it to grow and divide when it shouldn’t without regard for normal mechanisms, eventually forming a tumor

Metastasis definition

Metastasis: the spread of cancer cells from one part of the body to another, every cancerous cell must be removed, early detection is critical

Tobacco use and cancer

Tobacco use: responsible for ⅓ of cancer deaths, including ~80% of lung cancer deaths; also linked to larynx, mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix cancer

Dietary factors and cancer

Dietary factors: high in fat, red, processed, or charbroiled meat may contribute to colon, prostate, and stomach cancer; cooking foods at high temperatures; diets low in fruits and vegetables

Alcohol and cancer

Alcohol: associated with increased risk of several cancers, increases risk for oral cancer when combined with tobacco

Carcinogens definition

Carcinogens: substances that cause cancer like ingested chemicals, environmental and industrial pollution, radiation, microbes, etc

Carotenoids definition

Carotenoids: group of yellow-to-red plant pigments converted to vitamin A by the liver; many are antioxidants or have other anit-cancer effects

Phytochemical definition

Phytochemical: naturally occurring substance in plant foods that helps prevent and treat chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease

Obesity/inactivity and cancer

Obesity and inactivity: physical activity reduces the risk of many types of cancer, and being overweight/obese is linked with an increased risk of cancer

DNA definition

DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid, a chemical substance that carries genetic information

Chromosomes definition

Chromosomes: threadlike bodies in a cell nucleus that contain molecules of DNA; most human cells have 23 pairs

Gene definition

Gene: a section of a chromosome that contains the instructions for making a particular protein; the basic unit of heredity

Mutation definition

Mutation: any change in the makeup of a gene, can be inherited, part of an error in cell division, or caused by a mutagen

Oncogenes definition

Oncogenes: genes involved in the transformation of a normal cell into a cancer cell

Poverty and cancer risk

Poverty: people of low socioeconomic status are more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol, eat unhealthy foods, be sedentary, and be overweight, and less likely to have access to good healthcare

Prevalence of cancer

Prevalence: each year, more than 1.7 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer, and more than 600,000 die; ⅓ of Americans will develop cancer at some point in their lives

Lung cancer

Lung cancer: most common cause of cancer death in the United States, responsible for 143,000 deaths, chief risk factor is smoke and carcinogens, often treated with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy

Chemotherapy definition

Chemotherapy: the treatment of cancer with chemicals that selectively destroy cancerous cells

Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer: people 50+ years old, most arise from preexisting polyps or gene mutations, unhealthy diet, surgery is primary treatment method, symptoms include bleeding from the rectum

Breast cancer

Breast cancer: most common cancer in women, strong genetic factor or early menstruation, late menopause, no children, using hormone replacement therapy, obesity, alcohol use, smoking cigarettes, estrogen is the risk factor really

Mammogram definition

Mammogram: x-ray of the breasts used for early detection of breast cancer

Biopsy definition

Biopsy: removal and examination of small pieces of body tissue for the purpose of diagnosis

Ultrasonography definition

Ultrasonography: imaging method in which ultrasound is bounced off body structures to create an image on a monitor

Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer: 60% of cases in men over 65, most common cancer in men, treatments involve radiation, hormones, cryotherapy, and chemotherapy

PSA blood test

Prostate-specific antigen blood test: a diagnostic test for prostate cancer that measures blood levels of PSA

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer: occurs frequently in women in their 20s and 30s, an STI stemming from HPV, surgical or laser treatment, vaccine for HPV is available

Pap test

Pap test: a scraping of cells from the cervix for examination under a microscope to detect cancer

Uterine or endometrial cancer

Uterine or endometrial cancer: lining of the uterus, occurs after age 55 commonly, risk factors similar to breast cancer, detectable by pelvic exam, treated with surgery, radiation, hormones, chemotherapy

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer: rare, treated by removing ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus

Skin cancer

Skin cancer: most common, linked to UV exposure from the son

UV radiation

Ultraviolet radiation: light rays of a specific wavelength emitted by the son, most are blocked by the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere

Melanoma

Melanoma: a malignant tumor of the skin that arises from pigmented cells, usually a mole, most dangerous skin cancer because it spreads rapidly

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma: cancer of the deepest layers of the skin

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma: cancer of the skin’s surface layers

Head and neck cancers

Head and neck cancers: oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, are all linked to cigarettes/tobacco and alcohol; HPV infection is linked to tonsils and tongue; twice as common in men, more common in men over 40; treated with chemo, radiation, surgery

Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer: relatively rare, most common among age 20 to 35, treated by surgical removal or chemo

Other cancers

Other cancers: pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, brain cancer, leukemia, lymphoma

Self-monitoring for cancer

Self-monitoring: first line of defense, be aware of risk factors, report changes to a physician, specific screening tests for certain cancers are available

Diagnosis of cancer

Diagnosis: a biopsy may be needed, it is classified in stages of 0, I, II, III, or IV

Surgery for cancer

Surgery: less effective when the tumor involves cells of the immune system or if the cancer has metastasized (spread to other parts of the body)

Chemotherapy effects

Chemo: interferes with DNA synthesis and replication in rapidly dividing cells, can cause unpleasant side effects

Radiation for cancer

Radiation: a beam of X-rays or gamma rays is directed at the tumor to kill it, usually less toxic than surgery or chemo

Other treatments

Other treatments: immunotherapies, hormone therapies, stem cell transplants, personalized or precision therapies

Eating which of these foods may help prevent cancer? Chili peppers. Broccoli. Oranges.

All three: fruits and veggies provide fiber which can help prevent cancer

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men between ages 15 and 35. True or false?

True

The use of condoms during sexual intercourse may prevent cancer in women. True or false?

True: some cancers specific to women are linked to HPV, a sexually transmitted disease