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How Cancer Works
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Cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death in the U.S.
This year over ½ a million Americans will die of cancer #1 cause of death in the U.S. is ____________
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What is Cancer? Cancer is out-of-control cell division of mutated (abnormal) cells Normally, cells divide in a timely and orderly fashion. Also, if a cell is damaged it will not divide and will actually self-destruct
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What is a Tumor? Is it Cancer?
Tumor = a mass of tissue that forms when cells divide at an accelerated rate
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Pics of Tumors Osteosarcoma (cancerous bone tumor)
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Pictures of Tumors Brain Tumor
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Tumors can cause destruction in 3 major ways
Put pressure on nearby tissues/organs Invade tissues and organs directly and damage or destroy them Make invaded tissue more susceptible to infection
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Not all Tumors are Cancerous
Benign Tumors = tumors that are NOT cancerous Will not spread to other parts of the body Usually will not grow back once it is removed However, can still be very dangerous and harmful
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Cancerous Tumors Malignant Tumors = these ARE cancer
Can spread to other tissues/organs More likely to come back after it is removed
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Benign vs. Malignant Tumors
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How Cancer Spreads Metastasis = the spreading of cancerous cells
Millions of cancer cells are released from the site of the tumor into the blood stream
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Breast Cancer
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Metastasis
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Metastasis
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Stages of Cancer
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Understanding the Cause of Cancer
Cancer occurs when the cell cycle becomes unregulated Cell Cycle = a timely cycle of growth and replication of a cell
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Understanding the Cause of Cancer
Checkpoint Proteins act to ensure that: Stages of the cycle happen at the proper time There are no mistakes If a checkpoint protein detects that something is wrong, the cell will not divide!
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Cell Cycle Checkpoints
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Cell Cycle Checkpoints
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Understanding the Cause of Cancer
Cancer results from a breakdown in these checkpoint proteins They are not doing their job and therefore the cell divides when it should not
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Understanding the Cause of Cancer
Why do the checkpoint proteins break down? DNA is the “instruction book” for making these proteins If there is damage to the DNA, then checkpoint proteins may not be made or will be made incorrectly
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Understanding the Cause of Cancer
If the DNA makes nonfunctional checkpoint proteins: There will be too much cell division Division will occur even though there are major errors/damage
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Genetic/Natural Causes of Cancer
What causes DNA mutations? (Changes in the DNA message) You can inherit faulty genes from your parents Genes may mutate (accidentally) in your cells over time Mistakes can be made when DNA copies itself in preparation for cell division
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Understanding the Cause of Cancer
What causes DNA mutations? (Changes in the DNA message) Carcinogens = a cancer-causing substances or exposures
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Examples of Known Carcinogens
Tobacco smoking Smokeless tobacco (chew) UV Radiation X-rays and gamma rays Asbestos Wood Dust Alcoholic Beverage Consumption
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Examples of Known Carcinogens
HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Soot Silica (that is small enough to be inhaled) Coal Tar Estrogen Steroids Chemicals used in furniture and cabinet making
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Carcinogens in Cigarettes
There are 81 known carcinogens in cigarettes!!
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Healthy Lung Lung Cancer
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Cancer Treatments Surgery – remove the tumor
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Cancer Treatments Radiation Therapy
X-rays are directed precisely at the tumor site X-rays kill the cells by damaging the DNA
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Cancer Treatments Chemotherapy – uses chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in the body Can shrink/eliminate a tumor Can kill cancer cells that have metastasized Can kill cells in any part of the body
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