A Guide to Understanding Cancer What is Cancer

A Guide to Understanding Cancer

What is Cancer? Reference 1 • Group of more than 100 related genetic diseases • Can start almost anywhere in the body when abnormal cells undergo uncontrolled cell division due to changes in their DNA • Can form tumors that may invade local tissues and spread to other parts of the body

How Does Cancer Start?

How Cancer Spreads Reference 2 • Malignant tumors will invade local tissues and spread to other parts of the body; benign tumors will not • The spread of cancer cells to other places in the body is called metastasis • Cancer cells can travel through blood or lymph to other parts of the body to form new tumors

How Common Is Cancer? • About 39. 6% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime, although the rates are higher for men. • It is estimated that there will be more than 1. 5 million new cancer diagnoses and more than 589, 000 deaths from some form of cancer in the United States this year. • It is expected that new cancer cases will rise from 14 million in 2012 to 22 million within two decades.

Major Categories of Cancer • Carcinoma • Sarcoma • Leukemia • Lymphoma • Melanoma Reference 5

Causes of Cancer • • Risk of cancer increases with age Lifestyle Alcohol, tobacco, obesity Carcinogens in air, water, food, materials Certain viruses, bacteria, and other parasites Radiation Sunlight Genetics and family history *Tobacco is the leading cause of cancer and death from cancer

Signs and Symptoms Seven warning signs of cancer: C: Change in bowel or bladder habits A: A sore that does not heal U: Unusual bleeding or discharge T: Thickening or lump in the breasts or elsewhere I: Indigestion of difficulty in swallowing O: Obvious change in a wart or a mole N: Nagging cough or hoarseness * Having these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have cancer

When To See a Doctor Reference 11 • If symptoms persist or are severe, see a doctor • No signs and symptoms should be ignored or overlooked • Treatment works best when cancer is found early • It is important to see a doctor periodically as cancer can be found even without symptoms • Preventative checkups are a great idea

Prevention • Around 1/3 of cancer cases are preventable • Do not smoke or use other tobacco products • Drink alcohol in moderation • Keep a healthy diet • Maintain an ideal weight • Exercise • Minimize exposure to sun and wear sunblock Reference 12

Cancer Treatment • • • Surgery Radiation therapy Chemotherapy Stem cell transplant Immunotherapy Hormone therapy Reference 13

Treatment Side Effects • • • Reaction to cancer treatment varies from person to person Anemia Appetite/ weight loss Bleeding and bruising Urinary problems Pain Nausea and vomiting Hair loss Fatigue Edema Others Reference 14

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References 1. Gallagher, James. "Cancer Discovery Offers Hope of Tackling Spread of Disease. " Chill 4 us Careers. BBC News, 15 Aug. 2011. Web. 20 May 2015. 2. "Can Cancer Cells Spread from One Person to Another? " Ask an Expert (ABC Science). ABC Science, 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 20 May 2015. 3. "Cancer. " WHO. N. p. , Feb. 2015. Web. 22 May 2015. 4. Stanford, Janet L. Page 10 -12. Cancer in Utah. Salt Lake City: Utah Cancer Registry, 1996. N. pag. Print. 5. "What Is Cancer? " National Cancer Institute. N. p. , 9 Feb. 2015. Web. 22 May 2015. 6. “Cancer Statistics" National Cancer Institute. N. p. , 9 Feb. 2015. Web. 22 May 2015. 7. “Types of Treatment" National Cancer Institute. N. p. , 29 Apr. 2015. Web. 22 May 2015. 8. “Side Effects" National Cancer Institute. N. p. , 29 Apr. 2015. Web. 22 May 2015. 9. “Risk Factors of Cancer" National Cancer Institute. N. p. , 29 Apr. 2015. Web. 22 May 2015. 10. "Cancer Prevention. " WHO. N. p. , 2015. Web. 22 May 2015. 11. “Symptoms" National Cancer Institute. N. p. , 5 Mar. 2015. Web. 22 May 2015. 12. Chen, Suephy. "It’s Melanoma Awareness Monday: Reduce Your Risk. "Emory Healthcare. N. p. , 4 May 2015. Web. 22 May 2015. 13. "Here’s Why Radiation and Chemotherapy Should Not Be The Only Two Approved Treatments For Cancer. " Collective. Evolution RSS. N. p. , 29 Mar. 2014. Web. 22 May 2015. 14. "Cookeville Regional Medical Center. " CRMC Health. N. p. , n. d. Web. 22 May 2015.