Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth. The document discusses what cancer is, different types like carcinomas and sarcomas, how cancers are named by their location, the role of genes in cancer development, and the multi-step process of normal cells becoming cancerous cells that can invade nearby tissues and spread via the bloodstream to other parts of the body (metastasis). Malignant tumors are cancerous, while benign tumors only grow locally and do not metastasize.

1. Understanding Cancer and Related TopicsUnderstanding CancerDeveloped by:Lewis J. Kleinsmith, Ph.D.Donna Kerrigan, M.S.Jeanne KellyBrian HollenDiscusses and illustrates what cancer is, explains the link between genes and cancer, and discusses what is known about the causes, detection, and diagnosis of the disease.These PowerPoint slides are not locked files. You can mix and match slides from different tutorials as you prepare your own lectures. In the Notes section, you will find explanations of the graphics. The art in this tutorial is copyrighted and may not be reused for commercial gain.Please do not remove the NCI logo or the copyright mark from any slide. These tutorials may be copied only if they are distributed free of charge for educational purposes.

2. What Is Cancer?

3. Different Kinds of CancerLeukemias: BloodstreamSome common carcinomas: LungBreast (women) ColonBladder Prostate (men)Lymphomas: Lymph nodesSome common sarcomas: Fat Bone Muscle

4. Naming CancersCancer Prefixes Point to LocationPrefix Meaningadeno- glandchondro- cartilageerythro- red blood cellhemangio- blood vesselshepato- liverlipo- fatlympho- lymphocytemelano- pigment cellmyelo- bone marrowmyo- muscleosteo- bone

5. Loss of Normal Growth ControlNormal cell divisionCell Suicide or ApoptosisCell damage—no repairCancer cell divisionFourth orlater mutationThird mutationSecond mutationFirst mutationUncontrolled growth

6. Example of Normal GrowthDead cells shed from outer surfaceEpidermisCell migrationDividing cells in basal layerDermis

7. The Beginning of Cancerous GrowthUnderlying tissue

8. Tumors (Neoplasms)Underlying tissue

9. Invasion and Metastasis1Cancer cells invade surrounding tissues and blood vessels2Cancer cells are transported by the circulatory system to distant sites3Cancer cells reinvade and grow at new location

10. Malignant versus Benign TumorsMalignant (cancer) cells invade neighboring tissues, enter blood vessels, and metastasize to different sitesBenign (not cancer) tumor cells grow only locally and cannot spread by invasion or metastasisTime

11. Why Cancer Is Potentially DangerousBrainMelanoma cells travel through bloodstreamLiverMelanoma(initial tumor)