Cancer

Abnormal Cell division: Cancer Mrs. Taktak

What is cancer?
When cells in some area of the body begin dividing uncontrollably, excess tissue develops. This is called a tumor, growth, or neoplasm.

Cancer related terms
Oncology: The study of tumors
Oncologist: A physician who specializes in tumors and cancers
Malignant: A tumor that is cancerous
Benign: A tumor that is non-cancerous

Types of Cancer
Cancers are classified by the types of tissues they are affecting.
There are 5 main forms of cancers.

Cancer Classification
1. Carcinomas : Come from cells that line body cavities or line organs (lung cancer)
2. Melanomas : come from cells that produce melanin in the skin (skin cancer)
3. Sarcoma ; come from muscle cells or connective tissues
4. Leukemia : Cancer of blood cells and blood forming organs
5. Lymphoma : cancer of lymph nodes and vessels

Carcinoma Examples
Gastric Carcinoma – cancer of stomach lining
Lung cancer (carcinoma of squamous cells)
Esophogeal carcinoma
Feels like food is stuck in the esophogus

Carcinoma pictures

Melanoma
A serious form of skin cancer that begins in the melanocytes (pigment cells)

Sarcoma
Sarcoma of an arm
(a long section)

Leukemia
Cancer of blood cells

Lymphoma
Cancer of the Lymphatic
system

Cancer causing agents
Carcinogens- chemicals or environmental agents that cause cancer
Oncogenes- genes that transform normal cells into cancerous cells by stimulating uncontrolled cell division.

Common cancer causing factors
Cigarette smoke and tobacco products
Excessive exposure to sunlight
Excessive alcohol consumption
High doses of estrogen (HRT)
Excessive radiation exposure
Occupational hazards (asbestos,…)
Obesity

Warning signs of cancer…
1. Change in bowel or bladder habits
2. A sore that doesn’t heal
3. Unusual bleeding or discharge
4. Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
5. Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
6. Change in a wart or mole
7. Nagging cough or hoarseness

Common treatments for Cancer
1. Surgery : the oldest form of treatment for cancer, the objective being to remove the tumor.
2. Radiation: energy carried by particles that can alter the genetic code of a cell, it attacks the cells that are dividing.

Common treatments for Cancer
Chemotherapy: Can be drugs (by pill), shots, or IV’s to control and or destroy cancer. Unlike radiation, “chemo” can reach cancers that have spread throughout the body. It often has many side affects such as nausea, diarrhea, hair loss, fatigue

Facts about cancer
Statistics predict that 3 out of 4 families will be affected by cancer over the lifetime of the family members….
Cancer is the leading killer of children between the ages of 3 and 14
To be considered “cured” from cancer is to be cancer free for a period of 5 years.

More facts about cancer
About 50% of people are able to be “cured” from cancer.
Lung cancer is the one cancer that continues to claim a greater number of victims, even in women. This is attributed to smoking…

Cancer

by johnfink on Jan 16, 2010

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

2 Embeds 10

Statistics

Cancer — Presentation Transcript

http://askacancersurvivor.com	8
http://feeds.feedburner.com	2