Cancer Basics

Cancer BasicsEQ: What does cancer have to do with the cell cycle?What is cancer?Cancer is a disease of the cell cycle.

Cells divide when they are not supposed to.

Develop into tumors and eventually spread to other parts of the body.

CausesCell with damaged DNA divides repeatedly.

Normal cell cycle checkpoints do not function.

Caused by:GeneticsDrug or chemical exposure (carcinogens)Accidental mutationsCancer ProgressionDNA of cell is damagedDNA is not repaired. Cell does not die.

Cell with damaged DNA multiplies.Immune system does not kill faulty cells.

Tumor forms

Blood vessels carry cells to other parts of body (metastasis)Terms to KnowBenign tumor a tumor that is not cancerousWill not spread to other parts of bodyMay be removed if it presses on other organsMalignant tumor mass of cancer cells

Carcinoma in situ early cancer that has not yet formed a tumorEasiest type of cancer to treat

Metastasis spread of cancer to other parts of the bodyMost difficult cancer to treatTypes of CancerAny part of the body can develop cancerMost common cancers are in organs whose cells divide rapidlySkin cancer, leukemia, lung cancer

Named for the part of the body in which it beganA liver tumor that is the result of breast cancer is still breast cancerEach cancer spreads to other organs in a predictable sequenceTreatmentSurgery physically cutting out a tumorVery effective before cancer metastasizesFew side effectsIf only one cell is left behind, cancer will recur

TreatmentRadiation uses waves to damage the DNA of the cancer cells so they cannot divideUsed to treat cancer that has metastasizedAlso damages DNA of healthy cellsDoctors will attempt to target specific cancer sites

TreatmentChemotherapy used drugs to inhibit the mitotic spindle so cancer cells cant divideAlso stops mitosis in healthy cellsSide effects: nausea, anemia, hair loss, fatigueUsed when cancer has metastasized

PrognosisDepends on the type of cancer, stage, and the TNM status

All cancers are easier to treat when caught earlyStage IV is the most severe. Treatment at this stage usually only extends the patients life a few months or years.