Unit 6 - Cancer

Question 0

Why isn’t cancer a normal disease?

Answer 0

It isn’t caused by a specific pathogen and it isn’t characterized by any one set of symptoms

Question 1

What is cancer?

Answer 1

The loss of genetic control (a loss of a cells ability to control its own rate of mitosis)

Question 2

What is cancer in its simplest sense?

Answer 2

Rapid and uncontrolled cell growth

Question 3

Why do cancer cells never differentiate and become “useful?”

Answer 3

Because they reproduce so rapidly

Question 4

How do cancer cells survive? At the cost of what?

Answer 4

Cancer cells survive at the expense of normal cells that do have a function. Since they reproduce so quickly they require much more nutrients than normal cells.

Question 5

Name 8 characteristics of cancer cells

Answer 5

1. Have an unlimited number of cell divisions
2. Abnormal nuclei
3. Very little cytoplasm
4. May have an abnormal number of chromosomes
5. Developed from a normal cell that has gone wrong
6. Undifferentiated
7. Can live separate from neighbouring cells
8. Lack contact inhibition

Question 6

All human cells contain normal genes called _______, that mutate to become _________, giving the cell the ability to become cancerous

Answer 6

1. Proto-oncogenes

2. Oncogenes

Question 7

How many oncogenes (ish) are required in the same cell to cause cancer?

Answer 7

At least 2, but usually 5 or 6

Question 8

Many cancers are due to_______

Answer 8

the life long accumulation of mutations (this explains why incidence of cancer increases dramatically as you age)

Question 9

What are the 4 stages of cancer?

Answer 9

1. Neoplasia
2. Anaplasia
3. Angiogenesis (Vascularization)
4. Metastasis

Question 10

Describe the 4 stages of cancer

Answer 10

1. Neoplasia = normal cell becomes cancerous
2. Anaplasia = growth of disorganized mass of cells (tumor)
3. Angiogenesis (vascularization) = stimulation of new blood vessel growth into tumor.
4. Metastisis = migration of cancer cells into circulatory and

lymphatic systems

Question 11

What is Carcinoma?

Answer 11

cancer of the epithelial tissue

Question 12

What is Sarcoma?

Answer 12

cancer of connective tissue

Question 13

What is Leukemia?

Answer 13

cancer of blood tissue

Question 14

What is Lymphoma?

Answer 14

cancer of lymph tissue

Question 15

What are the danger signals of cancer? (C.A.U.T.I.O.N)

Answer 15

C = Change in bladder or bowel habits
A = A sore that does not heal
U = Unusual bleeding or discharge
T = Thickening or lump below the skin
I = Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
O = Obvious change in wart or mole
N = Nagging cough or hoarseness

Question 16

What is the difference between a benign and malignant cancer?

Answer 16

A benign cancer is localized, it does not reach metastisis like a malignant cancer does

Question 17

How does the body protect itself from cancer?

Answer 17

The body’s immune system has a number of White blood cells in the blood and lymph system which can identify and destroy many cancer cells