Obvious Title: Cancer Explained Simply
General Definition:
6 Cancer Characteristics:
1. Metastasis: Cancer spreading to other parts of the body.
1. Anaplasia: Cells growing out of control
2. Lack of Contact Inhibition: Cells don't stop growing when they touch
others.
3. Vascularization: Cancer cells creating new blood vessels.
4. Abnormal Nuclei: Weird nuclei inside cells.
5. Abnormal Cell Shape and Size: Cells looking strange and being too big
or small.
7 Danger Signs:
1.Change in bowel or bladder habits: changes, like going more often, having
trouble going, or seeing blood in your pee or poop
2.A sore that does not heal (unusual pains): Our body is good at fixing itself
when we get hurt, like when we get a cut or scrape. But sometimes, if a sore
doesn't go away or if we have pains that don't seem to be normal, it could
mean there's something going on that needs attention.
3.Unusual bleeding or discharge: seeing blood or other fluids from places in
your body where you don't normally expect to see them. For example, if you
notice blood when you cough, pee, poop, or have discharge from private
parts, and it's not something that happens normally, it's considered unusual.
4.A thickening lump in the breast or elsewhere in the body: like finding a
bump or a knot in a rope where there wasn't one before. It's not normal, and it
might mean something needs checking.
5.Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing: feels like your stomach is upset, you
might feel bloated, gassy, or have heartburn. It's like when your stomach feels
uncomfortable after eating too much or eating something spicy. Difficulty
swallowing means it's hard to get food or drink down your throat smoothly. It
might feel like something's stuck in your throat or like you have to swallow
extra hard to get food down.
6.Obvious changes in a wart or mole
7. A nagging cough or hoarseness
Benign Tumor vs. Malignant Tumor:
Descriptor Benign tumor Malignant Tumor
Rate of Cell Growth Usually slow Slow to rapid
Tumor Formation Localized and confined cell Cells may dislodge and
growth move away from the tumor
to invade other tissues
Extent of Tissue Damage Minor destruction Major destruction
Appearance cells look similar to normal Cells are atypical of
cells surround tumor surround healthy cells
(nucleus looks to be (have enlarged nucleus
normal in size) and irregularly shaped cell
membrane)
Define:
1. Carcinogen: Bad stuff that can cause cancer.
1. Initiator: Something that starts cancer, like igniting the fire, or a start
button, they turn proto oncogenes into oncogenes
2. Promoter: Substances that help cancer grow, by providing energy for
them, telling the oncogene to make cancer cells
3. Oncogene: A gene that makes cells grow too much, and causes cancer.
4. Proto Oncogene: A normal gene that can turn into a bad gene and
cause cancer, a sleeping oncogene
How they are related in the promotion of cancer.
● Carcinogens can start the process.
● Initiators kickstart the trouble in cells.
● Promoters keep the trouble going, making cells grow crazy.
● Oncogenes are like the bosses telling cells to grow too much.
● Proto Oncogenes can turn into bad bosses (oncogenes) if they change.
List the 3 most common cancers:
Men (3)
1. Prostate Cancer
2. Lung Cancer
3. Colorectal Cancer
Women (3)
1. Breast Cancer
2. Lung Cancer
3. Colorectal Cancer
Children (3)
1. Leukemia
2. Brain and Nervous System Tumours
3. Lymphoma
2 Most Dangerous Types + Descriptions:
1. Pancreatic cancer: This cancer starts in the pancreas, a part of the body
near the stomach. It's super fast and hard to catch early.
2. Lung cancer: This one starts in the lungs, where we breathe. It's really
bad, especially if someone smokes. It can spread fast to other parts of
the body.
List and Describe 2 of the most curable types of cancer.
● Testicular cancer: This cancer starts in the testicles, which are part of
the male reproductive system. It's highly curable, especially when
caught early. Treatment usually involves surgery to remove the affected
testicle, and sometimes additional treatments like chemotherapy or
radiation therapy.
● Thyroid cancer: Thyroid cancer starts in the thyroid gland, located in the
neck. It's often curable, especially if it's detected early. Treatment usually
involves surgery to remove the thyroid gland, and sometimes additional
treatments like radioactive iodine therapy.
3
1. Imaging tests: These include X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasound, and
PET scans. These tests create detailed pictures of the inside of the body,
helping doctors see any abnormal growths or tumors.
2. Biopsy: This involves removing a small sample of tissue or cells from the
suspected cancerous area and examining them under a microscope. This
allows doctors to confirm the presence of cancer and determine its type and
characteristics.
3. Physical Examination:
During a physical examination, the doctor carefully looks at your body and
asks you questions about how you're feeling. They may feel for any lumps or
bumps, look at your skin for any changes, and listen to your heart and lungs
with a stethoscope. This helps the doctor check if everything is okay and if
there are any signs of cancer or other health problems.
What is the name of the doctor specialists who treat cancer patients and list 3
methods of cancer therapy:
The doctors who specialize in treating cancer patients are called oncologists.
Three methods of cancer therapy include:
1. Surgery: Removing the cancerous tumor or affected tissue from the
body.
2. Chemotherapy: Using drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from
growing and spreading.
3. Radiation therapy: Using high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or shrink
tumors.
List 4 risk factors/causes of cancer:
1. Smoking and tobacco use: Tobacco smoke contains harmful chemicals
that can damage cells in the body, increasing the risk of cancer.
2. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation: Overexposure to UV radiation
from the sun or tanning beds can cause skin damage and increase the
risk of skin cancer.
3. Poor diet and lack of physical activity: Consuming a diet high in
processed foods, red meat, and unhealthy fats, along with not getting
enough exercise, can contribute to obesity and increase the risk of
certain cancers.
4. Family history and genetics: Inherited genetic mutations or a family
history of certain cancers can increase an individual's risk of developing
cancer themselves.
List 5 protective/prevention behaviors to help prevent cancer:
1. Maintain a healthy diet: Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and
lean proteins, and limit processed foods, red meat, and sugary drinks.
2. Exercise regularly: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity
exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise each week to maintain a
healthy weight and reduce the risk of cancer.
3. Avoid tobacco: Don't smoke, and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke and
other tobacco products, which can increase the risk of various types of cancer.
4. Protect your skin: Limit exposure to UV radiation from the sun by wearing
sunscreen, protective clothing, and seeking shade, and avoid indoor tanning
beds.
5. Get recommended screenings: Follow your healthcare provider's
recommendations for cancer screenings, such as mammograms, Pap tests,
colonoscopies, and skin checks, to detect cancer early when treatment is
most effective.
Slide 1: Title Slide
● Title: "Unlocking the Mystery of Cancer: A Universal Lesson"
● Subtitle: "Helping Aliens Understand Cancer to Save Their Planet"
● Visuals Recommendation: A vibrant, cartoon-style illustration of Earth with
cancer cells depicted as tiny, menacing characters. Include friendly aliens
approaching a stick figure (representing the presenter) for help, highlighting the
educational and interstellar journey theme.
Slide 2: Introduction to Cancer
● Definition: Expand the definition to include why cancer is a problem and how it
affects living beings, making it relevant to aliens by suggesting the universality of
cellular life.
● Visuals Recommendation: A split cartoon image showing happy, healthy cells on
one side and chaotic, cancerous cells on the other, with arrows or animated
effects to depict uncontrolled growth.
Slides 3-8: Understanding Cancer Characteristics
For each characteristic, include simplified, engaging explanations along with interactive
elements or questions to make the aliens feel involved.
● Visuals Recommendation: Each slide should feature imaginative, colorful
illustrations showing cells in various scenarios that parallel the characteristics
described, such as cells building too many bridges (vascularization) or cells not
respecting personal space (lack of contact inhibition).
Slides 9-15: Recognizing Danger Signs of Cancer
● Enhancements: Add questions like "Would you notice this on your planet?" to
personalize the information.
● Visuals Recommendation: Use cartoon aliens experiencing these symptoms in a
non-scary, educational way. For instance, an alien puzzled by a new lump or an
alien trying and failing to eat, illustrating difficulty in swallowing.
Slide 16: Benign vs. Malignant Tumors
● Enhancements: Simplify the comparison with easy analogies, such as comparing
benign tumors to a harmless weed that stays in one spot, versus malignant
tumors that are like weeds spreading throughout a garden.
● Visuals Recommendation: Cartoon diagrams showing a single, contained "weed"
versus multiple "weeds" spreading, using colors and shapes to differentiate
between benign and malignant.
Slides 17-21: Explaining Cancer-related Terms
● Enhancements: Use metaphors and stories, such as a tale of a city (body) with
workers (cells) and how some workers start building incorrectly due to bad
instructions (oncogenes).
● Visuals Recommendation: Create a series of connected, storybook-style
illustrations that depict the progression from carcinogens to cancer development
in a whimsical city setting.
Slides 22-25: Most Common Cancers
● Enhancements: Include world maps showing where these cancers are most
common, even if imaginary for the alien context, to discuss the importance of
environment and genetics.
● Visuals Recommendation: For each type of cancer, use symbols or characters
representing men, women, and children with a spotlight on the affected area,
using a globe or planetary background for a universal appeal.
Slides 26-29: Cancer Types, Curable and Dangerous
● Enhancements: Discuss why early detection is crucial, using space exploration
metaphors (e.g., spotting a meteor early can save a planet).
● Visuals Recommendation: Dramatic visuals contrasting the darkness of space
(dangerous cancers) with bright, hopeful images (curable cancers), including
symbols of treatment and recovery like shields or healing rays.
Slides 30-32: Diagnostic Methods for Cancer
● Enhancements: Compare each diagnostic method to alien technology, making it
relatable and intriguing (e.g., imaging tests as advanced scanners searching for
trouble spots).
● Visuals Recommendation: Futuristic, alien-looking medical instruments
performing each test, with happy cells showing a thumbs-up when cancer is not
found or being marked for further study if suspicious.
Slide 33: Cancer Specialists and Treatment Methods
● Enhancements: Present oncologists as heroes or specialized agents in the fight
against cancer, using simple explanations for each treatment method.
● Visuals Recommendation: Cartoon oncologists equipped with gear for surgery,
chemotherapy, and radiation, depicted as space-age tools for healing.
Slide 34: Risk Factors/Causes of Cancer
● Enhancements: Add interactivity by asking the aliens to identify which risk
factors might exist on their planet.
● Visuals Recommendation: Icons or characters engaging in activities that
represent each risk factor, with a clear indication of their harmful effects, like a
cloud of smoke from a cigarette or a sun with harmful rays for UV exposure.
Slide 35: Preventive Measures for Cancer
● Enhancements: Suggest that these are universal precautions, valuable across
galaxies. Incorporate a quiz or interactive segment to match the preventive
measure with its benefit.
● Visuals Recommendation: Bright, encouraging images of aliens and humans
together practicing healthy behaviors, such as eating fruits and vegetables,
exercising, and applying sunscreen, highlighting community and care.
Slide 36: Thank You and Conclusion
● Enhancements: Summarize the key points learned and express hope for a
healthier universe. Invite questions or reflections on how the aliens can apply
these lessons on their planet.
● Visuals Recommendation: A heartwarming scene of the presenter (stick figure)
waving goodbye to the aliens, with a spaceship ready to take the knowledge back
to their planet, symbolizing the shared mission of fighting cancer.
Overall Visual Theme: Ensure a consistent, bright, and friendly visual style throughout
the presentation, using vibrant colors, simple shapes, and clear text to engage and
educate. Interactive elements like quizzes or reflective questions will make the
information more memorable and impactful.
See how the little group of cancer cells when from the aliens lungs to its
intestines
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"Key Statistics for Lung Cancer." American Cancer Society,
www.cancer.org/cancer/lung-cancer.html.
"Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rates." American Cancer Society,
www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreatic-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/surviv
al-rates.html. Accessed [insert date].
Survival Rates for Prostate Cancer." American Cancer Society,
www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-
rates.html.
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