Cancer mikEL rlh mantong

 CANCER Similarly, cancer is a result of mutations that inhibit oncogene

I. Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell and tumor suppressor gene function, leading to uncontrollable
growth. cell growth.
J. (medical term: malignant neoplasm) is a class of diseases in  Carcinogens
which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth (division I. Carcinogens are a class of substances that are directly
beyond the normal limits), invasion (intrusion on and responsible for damaging DNA, promoting or aiding cancer.
destruction of adjacent tissues), and sometimes metastasis Tobacco, asbestos, arsenic, radiation such as gamma and x-rays,
(spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood) the sun, and compounds in car exhaust fumes are all examples
K. Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide of carcinogens. When our bodies are exposed to carcinogens,
uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors free radicals are formed that try to steal electrons from other
(except in the case of leukemia where cancer prohibits normal molecules in the body. Theses free radicals damage cells and
blood function by abnormal cell division in the blood stream). affect their ability to function normally.
Tumors can grow and interfere with the digestive, nervous, and  How is cancer classified?
circulatory systems, and they can release hormones that alter I. There are five broad groups that are used to classify cancer.
body function. Tumors that stay in one spot and demonstrate J. Carcinomas are characterized by cells that cover internal and
limited growth are generally considered to be benign. external parts of the body such as lung, breast, and colon
L. More dangerous, or malignant, tumors form when two things cancer.
occur: K. Sarcomas are characterized by cells that are located in bone,
1. A cancerous cell manages to move throughout the cartilage, fat, connective tissue, muscle, and other supportive
body using the blood or lymph systems, destroying tissues.
healthy tissue in a process called invasion L. Lymphomas are cancers that begin in the lymph nodes and
2. That cell manages to divide and grow, making new immune system tissues.
blood vessels to feed itself in a process called M. Leukemias are cancers that begin in the bone marrow and often
angiogenesis. accumulate in the bloodstream.
M. When a tumor successfully spreads to other parts of the body N. Adenomas are cancers that arise in the thyroid, the pituitary
and grows, invading and destroying other healthy tissues, it is gland, the adrenal gland, and other glandular tissues
said to have metastasized. This process itself is called  Terms
metastasis, and the result is a serious condition that is very I. Cancers are often referred to by terms that contain a prefix
difficult to treat. related to the cell type in which the cancer originated and a
 Causes of Cancer suffix such as -sarcoma, -carcinoma, or just -oma. Common
I. Cancer is ultimately the result of cells that uncontrollably grow prefixes include:
and do not die. Normal cells in the body follow an orderly path J. Adeno- = gland I. Melano- = pigment cell
of growth, division, and death. Programmed cell death is called K. Chondro- = cartilage J. Myelo- = bone marrow
apoptosis, and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to L. Erythro- = red blood cell K. Myo- = muscle
M. Hemangio- = blood vessels L. Osteo- = bone
form. Unlike regular cells, cancer cells do not experience
N. Hepato- = liver M. Uro- = bladder
programmatic death and instead continue to grow and divide.
O. Lipo- = fat N. Retino- = eye
This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grows out of control. P. Lympho- = white blood cell O. Neuro- = brain
J. Cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of  How is cancer treated?
the transformed cells. These abnormalities may be due to the I. Surgery
effects of carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, radiation, 1. Surgery is the oldest known treatment for cancer. If a
chemicals, or infectious agents. Other cancer-promoting genetic cancer has not metastasized, it is possible to completely
abnormalities may randomly occur through errors in DNA cure a patient by surgically removing the cancer from the
replication, or are inherited, and thus present in all cells from body. This is often seen in the removal of the prostate or a
birth. The heritability of cancers is usually affected by complex breast or testicle. After the disease has spread, however,
interactions between carcinogens and the host's genome. it is nearly impossible to remove all of the cancer cells.
 Genes - the DNA type Surgery may also be instrumental in helping to control
I. Cells can experience uncontrolled growth if there are damages symptoms such as bowel obstruction or spinal cord
or mutations to DNA, and therefore, damage to the genes compression.
involved in cell division. Four key types of gene are responsible J. Radiation
for the cell division process: oncogenes tell cells when to divide, 1. Radiation treatment, also known as radiotherapy,
tumor suppressor genes tell cells when not to divide, suicide destroys cancer by focusing high-energy rays on the
genes control apoptosis and tell the cell to kill itself if cancer cells. This causes damage to the molecules that
something goes wrong, and DNA-repair genes instruct a cell to make up the cancer cells and leads them to commit
repair damaged DNA. suicide. Radiotherapy utilizes high-energy gamma-rays
J. Cancer occurs when a cell's gene mutations make the cell that are emitted from metals such as radium or high-
unable to correct DNA damage and unable to commit suicide.
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 Cancer mikEL rlh mantong
energy x-rays that are created in a special machine. Early b) Does not cure, but increases survival
radiation treatments caused severe side-effects because rates
the energy beams would damage normal, healthy tissue, 2) Examples: Tamoxifen (breast); Flutamide
(prostate)
but technologies have improved so that beams can be
3) Toxic Effects: altered secondary sex
more accurately targeted. Radiotherapy is used as a
characteristics
standalone treatment to shrink a tumor or destroy cancer g. 7. Hormone inhibitors
cells (including those associated with leukemia and 1) Aromatase inhibitors (Arimidex, Aromasin)
lymphoma), and it is also used in combination with other a) Prevents production of aromatase which
cancer treatments. is needed for estrogen production
K. Chemotherapy b) Used in post menopausal women
c) Side effects
1. Chemotherapy utilizes chemicals that interfere with
d) Masculinizing effects in women
the cell division process - damaging proteins or DNA - so e) Fluid retention
that cancer cells will commit suicide. These treatments L. Immunotherapy
target any rapidly dividing cells (not necessarily just 1. Immunotherapy aims to get the body's immune
cancer cells), but normal cells usually can recover from system to fight the tumor. Local immunotherapy injects a
any chemical-induced damage while cancer cells cannot. treatment into an affected area, for example, to cause
Chemotherapy is generally used to treat cancer that has inflammation that causes a tumor to shrink. Systemic
spread or metastasized because the medicines travel immunotherapy treats the whole body by administering
throughout the entire body. It is a necessary treatment for an agent such as the protein interferon alpha that can
some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Chemotherapy shrink tumors. Immunotherapy can also be considered
treatment occurs in cycles so the body has time to heal non-specific if it improves cancer-fighting abilities by
between doses. However, there are still common side stimulating the entire immune system, and it can be
effects such as hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. considered targeted if the treatment specifically tells the
Combination therapies often include multiple types of immune system to destroy cancer cells. These therapies
chemotherapy or chemotherapy combined with other are relatively young, but researchers have had success
treatment options. with treatments that introduce antibodies to the body
that inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Bone
2. Classes of Chemotherapy Drugs marrow transplantation (hematopoetic stem cell
a. Alkylating agents transplantation) can also be considered immunotherapy
1) Action: create defects in tumor DNA
because the donor's immune cells will often attack the
2) Examples: Nitrogen Mustard, Cisplatin
b. Antimetabolites tumor or cancer cells that are present in the host.
1) Action: similar to metabolites needed for vital M. Hormone therapy
cell processes 1. Several cancers have been linked to some types of
a) Counterfeit metabolites interfere with hormones, most notably breast and prostate cancer.
cell division Hormone therapy is designed to alter hormone
2) Examples: Methotrexate; 5 fluorouracil
production in the body so that cancer cells stop growing
3) Toxic Effects: nausea, vomiting, stomatitis,
or are killed completely. Breast cancer hormone therapies
diarrhea, alopecia, leukopenia
c. Antitumor Antibiotics often focus on reducing estrogen levels (a common drug
1) Action: interfere with DNA for this is tamoxifen) and prostate cancer hormone
2) Examples: Actinomycin D, Bleomycin therapies often focus on reducing testosterone levels. In
3) Toxic Effect: damage to cardiac muscle addition, some leukemia and lymphoma cases can be
d. Antimiotic agents treated with the hormone cortisone.
1) Action: Prevent cell division
N. Gene therapy
2) Examples: Vincristine, Vinblastine
1. The goal of gene therapy is to replace damaged genes
3) Toxic Effects: affects neurotransmission,
alopecia, bone marrow depression with ones that work to address a root cause of cancer:
e. Hormone agonist damage to DNA. For example, researchers are trying to
1) Action: large amounts of hormones upset the replace the damaged gene that signals cells to stop
balance and alter the uptake of other dividing (the p53 gene) with a copy of a working gene.
hormones necessary for cell division Other gene-based therapies focus on further damaging
2) Example: estrogen, progestin, androgen
cancer cell DNA to the point where the cell commits
f. Hormone Antagonist
1) Action: block hormones on hormone-binding suicide. Gene therapy is a very young field and has not yet
tumors (breast, prostate, endometrium; cause resulted in any successful treatments.
tumor regression
a) Decreasing the amount of hormones can
decrease the cancer growth rate