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Cancer Overview
Q: Why is early detection of cancer important?
A: It improves survival, but symptoms often appear late (Stage 3 or 4).
Q: What are common symptoms of cancer?
A: Persistent cough, blood in stool/urine, weight loss, night sweats, fever, lumps, changes in moles.
Cancer Risk Factors
Q: What are the four main categories of cancer risk factors?
A: Biological, Genetic, Environmental, Behavioral.
Q: Give examples of biological cancer risk factors.
A: Age, infections (HPV, Hepatitis B/C).
Q: What genetic mutations increase breast cancer risk?
A: BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.
Q: What environmental factors increase cancer risk?
A: Pollution, UV radiation, X-rays, chemicals.
Q: How can behavior affect cancer risk?
A: Diet (red meat increases risk, antioxidants lower it), smoking, sun exposure.
Cancer Detection & Diagnosis
Q: What are some ways cancer can be detected?
A: Self-checks, medical imaging (MRI, CT scans, ultrasound), biopsy, genetic tests (STR marker analysis).
Q: Why are biopsies important in cancer diagnosis?
A: They confirm the presence of cancer cells (except for brain cancer).
Cancer Stages
Q: What does Stage 0 cancer mean?
A: There are abnormal cells that have the potential to become cancerous.
Q: How does Stage I cancer differ from Stage IV?
A: Stage I is small and localized, while Stage IV has metastasized (spread to other organs).
Cancer Treatments
Q: What are the main types of cancer treatments?
A: Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, stem cell therapy, precision medicine.
Q: What are the side effects of chemotherapy?
A: Hair loss, anemia, increased infections, nausea.
Q: How does radiation therapy work?
A: It damages cancer cell DNA to stop cell division.
Q: What is immunotherapy?
A: A treatment that boosts the immune system to attack cancer.
Q: How does targeted therapy work?
A: It uses drugs that specifically target cancer genes.
Q: What is hormone therapy used for?
A: It blocks hormones that promote cancer growth (e.g., breast and prostate cancer).
Cancer Remission
Q: What does cancer remission mean?
A: No detectable traces of cancer remain in the body.
Q: When is a person considered cancer-free?
A: After 5 years of remission.
Biofeedback & Cancer Treatment
Q: How does biofeedback help cancer patients?
A: It helps manage pain and stress through meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, and neural feedback.
Q: What are the benefits of biofeedback?
A: Lowers blood pressure, reduces panic attacks, minimizes pain perception.
Viruses & Cancer
Q: What cancers are linked to HPV?
A: Cervical cancer.
Q: What virus is linked to lymphomas?
A: Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV).
Q: Which viruses are linked to liver cancer?
A: Hepatitis B and C.
Q: How can virus-related cancers be prevented?
A: Vaccines for HPV and Hepatitis B, routine screenings.
Routine Cancer Screenings
Q: Why are routine screenings important?
A: Early detection improves treatment success and prevents metastasis.
Q: What cancers should be screened for regularly?
A: Prostate, colon, cervical, breast, skin, testicular, lung.
Short Tandem Repeats (STRs)
Q: What are STRs?
A: Short, repeating DNA sequences used for genetic identification.
Q: Why are STRs useful in genetic testing?
A: They vary in length between individuals, making them useful for forensic analysis, paternity testing, and disease risk assessment.
Q: How are STRs analyzed?
A: Using gel electrophoresis to separate DNA fragments by size.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)
Q: What are SNPs?
A: Variations in a single DNA base (A, T, C, or G) at a specific position.
Q: How do SNPs affect traits?
A: They can influence hair color, disease risk, and drug responses.
Q: How are SNPs used in medicine?
A: In pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine to tailor treatments.
STRs & SNPs in Cancer and Hair Color
Q: How do STRs relate to cancer risk?
A: STR variations near cancer-related genes (e.g., BRCA1) can indicate mutations.
Q: What does a normal BRCA1 STR look like?
A: 228 base pairs.
Q: What does a mutant BRCA1 STR look like?
A: 151 base pairs.
Q: How do STRs affect hair color?
A: Differences in STR length and SNP variations in hair color genes result in different shades.
Gel Electrophoresis & DNA Analysis
Q: What is gel electrophoresis used for?
A: To separate DNA fragments by size, helping to analyze STRs and SNPs.
Q: What does a thicker band in gel electrophoresis indicate?
A: Two identical DNA fragments overlapping (same STR length).
Q: What does a different band position indicate?
A: A difference in STR length, meaning different alleles.
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