CancerCancer

Cells out of controlCells out of control

Cancer: The Cellular Cancer: The Cellular DiseaseDisease

• Begins when something goes wrong Begins when something goes wrong with normal cell division and/or with normal cell division and/or growthgrowth

• Tumor:Tumor:• Mass of growing tissue that results from Mass of growing tissue that results from

cells dividing and growing uncontrollablycells dividing and growing uncontrollably• Benign:Benign: Non-cancerous tumor Non-cancerous tumor• Malignant:Malignant: Cancerous tumors that often Cancerous tumors that often

spread to other tissues (call spread to other tissues (call metastasismetastasis))

Cancer: The CausesCancer: The Causes1.1. Viral Cancers:Viral Cancers:

Some viruses may inject genes that interrupt Some viruses may inject genes that interrupt normal cell cyclesnormal cell cycles

2.2. Radiation:Radiation: Produce mutations in DNA causing interruption Produce mutations in DNA causing interruption

of normal cell cyclesof normal cell cycles Sunlight (UV), x-rays, nuclearSunlight (UV), x-rays, nuclear

3.3. Chemicals:Chemicals: Also may cause mutations in DNA causing Also may cause mutations in DNA causing

interruption of normal cell cyclesinterruption of normal cell cycles Called Called CARCINOGENSCARCINOGENS

Cancer: The TreatmentsCancer: The Treatments

• PREVENTION:PREVENTION:• Don’t smoke!Don’t smoke!• Wear sunscreen (at least 15 SPF)Wear sunscreen (at least 15 SPF)• Eat right and exercise!Eat right and exercise!

• SURGERY: tumor removalSURGERY: tumor removal• RADIATION: tumor shrinkageRADIATION: tumor shrinkage• CHEMOTHERAPY: tumor shrinkageCHEMOTHERAPY: tumor shrinkage

• Very uncomfortableVery uncomfortable• Patients lose hairPatients lose hair• Some of the drugs damage healthy cellsSome of the drugs damage healthy cells