When cells grow and divide out of control, they cause a group of diseases called cancer. The DNA prevents the cell from staying in interphase for the normal period of time.

Uncontrolled growth may create a rapidly growing lump, or tumour. Tumours may be benign - generally does not affect surrounding cells or malignant - cancerous. Cancer cells that break away from original tumour to a different part of the body and grow in this new location, a new tumour will form. This process is called metastasis (meh.-tass- ta-sis)

Normal duplication of DNA in a cell is error free. Sometimes random changes occur in the cell’s DNA called mutations. Changes may cause: No noticable change in cell Death of the cell Cancer

Tobacco smoke Radiation Some viruses Chemicals Organic solvents. Some mutations are caused by carcinogens, environmental factors that cause cancer. Examples include: Tobacco smoke Radiation Some viruses Chemicals Organic solvents.

Health Canada reports that 9 out of 10 lung cancer cases are caused by smoking.

Even when tobacco is chewed it can cause cancer – mouth, throat and stomach cancer.

Radiation can cause skin cancer. Are tanning beds safer than tanning in the sun?

ASR ASR ASR: age-standardized incidence rates per 100 000 per year 121 71 62 22 20 16 14 13 12 10 ASR 106 49 41 19 14 12 10 8 In women, after leukemia, next is kidney (n= 1650, ASR= 8), then cervix (n= 1350, ASR= 8), then bladder (n= 1250, ASR= 6) ASR: age-standardized incidence rates per 100 000 per year NHL: Non Hodgkin lymphoma Canadian Cancer Society/NICI, 2005

ASR ASR ASR: age-standardized incidence rates per 100 000 per year 63 27 26 9 8 7 6 5 ASR 40 24 17 8 7 6 4 3 In women, after uterus, next is multiple myeloma (n= 590), kidney (n= 570), bladder (n=500), cervix (n= 400, ASR= 2) ASR: age-standardized incidence rates per 100 000 per year NHL: Non Hodgkin lymphoma Canadian Cancer Society/NICI, 2005

Personal medical history Hereditiy ( breast and colon cancer) Exposure to carcinogens in the environment Lifestyle choices: exercise and food choices Question: Which factors are within your control?

Question: Does screening guarantee you won’t get cancer? At home, as part of a routine self-examination By a doctor, such as a pap test or blood test As genetic testing, when there is a family history of cancer Question: Does screening guarantee you won’t get cancer? Prostate Cancer Prostate Cancer

The earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances of successful treatment. Some diagnostic imaging techniques: Endoscopy – used mostly to diagnose cancers of the digestive tract

2. X-rays Bones, lungs and breast tissues

3. Ultrasound – use sound waves to take pictures of soft tissue (heart and liver) Baby Four chambers of heart

Tiny spot of lung cancer 4. CT scan – multiple x-rays put together by computer to generate a 3-D image Tiny spot of lung cancer

5. MRI – radio waves and magnetic field create a 3-D image even better than a CT scan MRI – breast cancer

What are the PROS and CONS of each type of treatment? 1. Surgery – Physical removal of tumour 2. Chemotherapy – Drugs spread through the body to stop cancer cells from dividing. As they “kill” cancer cells they can damage healthy cells. Radiation therapy – Radiation damages DNA. Beams of radiation are directed at tumour, or radioactive sources are surgically implanted in tumour. 4. Biophotonics (NEW) - uses beams of light to detect and treat the cancer cells. What are the PROS and CONS of each type of treatment?