Oncology 17

Question 1

What is oncology

Answer 1

Study and treatment of cancer

Question 2

What is the name of a physician who practices oncology?

Answer 2

Oncologist

Question 3

What is the name of a mass of tissues than grows faster than normal in an uncoordinated manner?

Answer 3

Neoplasm

Question 4

What is a tumour

Answer 4

Means ‘swelling’ in Latin. Describes a mass of growth of tissue - can be malignant or benign.

Question 5

3 ways to tell if a tumour is malignant?

Answer 5

It no longer responds to normal growth factors

Grows faster than normal

Grows in an uncoordinated manner

Question 6

Why is cancer more common in developed countries?

Answer 6

Environment
Lifestyle
Diet
Medications
Drugs

Question 7

How many deaths per year does cancer cause globally?

Answer 7

10 million

Question 8

What is mitosis?

Answer 8

The growth and repair of somatic cells

Question 9

What is meiosis?

Answer 9

The process that produces sex cells (gametes)

Question 10

What do non-cancer cells have in common?

Answer 10

They are differentiated and specialised

Question 11

What happened if cells become disorganised and grow in an uncontrolled manner?

Answer 11

Their function is lost

Question 12

What is cancer the result of?

Answer 12

An underlying cause
Genetic mutations
Patients genes with the environment

Question 13

In cancer, what happens to tumour suppression genes?

Answer 13

They become inactivated and new genes called oncogenes are formed

Question 14

What is angiogenesis?

Answer 14

New blood cells form
As malignant cells can only grow 1-2mm without blood supply

Question 15

3 environments cancer cells thrive in and why

Answer 15

Acidic - red meat, processed, diary, sugar & smoked foods

Anaerobic environment - lacking oxygen. Stress, breathing, diet and exercise

Glucose-rich - malignant cells dependent on glucose.

Question 16

What is contact inhibition

Answer 16

Proteins produced by cells that prevents cells diving beyond the space available

Question 17

What happens to contact inhibition in cancer?

Answer 17

Cancerous cells lose contact inhibition

Question 18

What is a change in generic information called?

Answer 18

Mutation

Question 19

What is a mutagen? Give some examples

Answer 19

An agent that changes the genetic info

Environment, chemicals, radiation, viruses, inflammation, immunity

Question 20

What is a carcinogen and give some examples?

Answer 20

A cancer-causing agent - nitrosamines, heavy metals, asbestos, X-rays

Question 21

What is carcinogenesis?

Answer 21

Process by which normal cells are transformed into cancel cells

Question 22

What percentage of cancers are attributed to environment and lifestyle?

Answer 22

90-95%

Question 23

How long can some tumours take to develop?

Answer 23

20-40 years

Question 24

Cancer risk factors

Answer 24

Genetic BRCa, family history
Chronic inflammation
Radiation
Smoking
Drugs & cosmetics
GIT dysfunction
Vitamin D deficiency & thyroid
Stress
Sexual behaviour
Excess alcohol
Obesity
Metal toxins
Medications
Vaccine ingredients

Question 25

Why is obesity a cancer risk factor?

Answer 25

Excess body fat changes hormone metabolism - increases oestrogen - drives oestrogen positive tumours

Question 26

Why is chronic inflammation a cancer risk factor and give 2 pathology examples

Answer 26

Promoted proliferation of cancer cells Inflammatory bowel disease and gastro-oesophageal reflex diseases

Question 27

Why is GIT dysfunction a cancer risk factor?

Answer 27

Liver - detoxifies substances Intestines - excrete body waste, absorb nutrients and immune function

Question 28

What a dietary risk factors of cancer

Answer 28

Red meats Burnt food Low fibre N-nitroso compounds eg cured meat Refined sugar Dairy Table salt, pesticides and aspartame

Question 29

Why is diary a cancer risk factor?

Answer 29

Pro-inflammatory and contains insulin-like growth factors

Question 30

Why is a low fibre diet a cancer risk

Answer 30

Fibre is high in phytochemicals and clear toxins and hormones such as oestrogen

Question 31

In chronic immunodeficiency what is deficient which would normally destroy abnormal cells

Answer 31

Cytotoxic t-lymphocytes Natural killer cells Macrophages

Question 32

How the host’s immune system compromised in HIV?

Answer 32

HIV targets CD4 cells (t-helper and macrophages) which compromise the hosts immune system

Question 33

How does stress compromise the immune system

Answer 33

Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels which suppress the immune system

Question 34

Describe a usual benign tumour

Answer 34

Differentiated cells Appear similar to normal cells so may be functional Reproduce at a higher rate than normal Often encapsulated Grow slowly Usually not life-threatening

Question 35

Example of when a benign tumour can be life threatening

Answer 35

Brain tumour that raised intracranial pressure

Question 36

Key points about malignant tumours

Answer 36

Usually undifferentiated, non-functional cells, varies shapes and sizes and large nuclei Reproduce free Not encapsulated Often systemic Life-threatening

Question 37

What do cancer grades measure?

Answer 37

Degree cell differentiation / abnormality