Cancer Terms Flashcards
What is cancer?
Cancer is a broad group of diseases that result in uncontrolled cell division.
What occurs in cancer with cells?
Cancer cells will continuously divide despite messages from the nucleus to stop growing and dividing.
The uncontrolled growth results in a mass of cells that form a lump or a tumour.
What are the two types of tumours?
Benign and Malignant
What is a benign tumour?
A tumour that does not affect surrounding tissues other than by physically crowding them.
What is a malignant tumour?
A tumour that interferes with the functioning of surrounding cells; a cancerous tumour (most serious).
What is it called when a tumour spreads to a different part of the body?
It has metastasized.
What is metastasis?
The process of cancer cells breaking away from the original tumour and establishing another tumour elsewhere in the body.
What are causes of cancer?
It can be caused by many different factors like genetics and the environment:
- Mutation (change in the DNA of a cell)
- Carcinogens (any environmental factor that causes cancer like smoking or asbestos)
What are types of cancer screening?
Pap Test
Breast or Testicular self - examination
PSA blood test - for prostate cancer testing
The ABCD of Moles - for skin cancer
How can you diagnose cancer (imaging technologies)?
Endoscopy X ray Ultrasound CT scanning MRI
How can a cancer diagnosis usually be confirmed?
A biopsy
What is a biopsy?
When a sample of the tumour is removed in order to closely examine it under a microscope.
What are the main treatments for cancer?
Surgery - to physically remove the tumour
Chemotherapy - the use of drugs to slow the growth of the cancer
Radiation - ionizing radiation is directed on the tumour which easily kills the cancer cells
