Question

Chapter TEN: Living with Cancer and other Chronic Diseases Questions: 1. What properties do cancer cells possess that are lacking in normal cells? 2. What are the principal factors that contribute to the development of lung cancer? 3. What are the principal factors that contribute to the development of breast cancer? When should regular mammography begin, and which women should begin using it earliest? 4. What are the risk factors, symptoms and treatment for testicular cancer? 5. What signs indicate the possibility that a skin lesion has become cancerous? 6. What does "CAUTION' means in reference to cancer?

Answer 1

1. Properties of cancer cells :-

- Cancer cells lack differentiation

They do not have a functioning role, nor do they look like anything other than abnormal. The can enter the cell cycle multiple times.

- Cancer cells have abnormal nuclei

The nuclei are enlarged and may contain abnormal numbers of mutated chromosomes. Gene amplification and DNA damage are common, although these cells do not undergo apoptosis.

- Cancer cells form tumors

This means that they do not cease dividing upon meeting a neigbor, but rather multiply and stack on top of each other in multiple layers.

- Cancer cells go through metastasis and angiogenesis.

Metastasis establishes tumors in places other than their original location. Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels. This process delivers nutrients and oxygen to cancer cells.

2. Factors that contribute to development of lung cancer are :-

- smoking

- radon

- Homes, buildings, schools

- colorless, odorless, gas from the breakdown of U-238

- genetics

- radiation

- pollution

- chemicals

The three genetic factors that increase one's risk for lung cancer?

1. Activation of dominant oncogenes

-K-ras, myc (proto-oncogene)

2. Inactivation of tumor suppressor oncogenes

-p53, p21, c - erb, rb, c - myc, c - src

3. Growth factors

-Gastrin releasing peptide, insulin - like growth factor,

epidermal growth factor.

3. Factors contributing to breast cancer are :-

Age, Family History, Previous diagnosis, Breast density, Exposure to oestrogen, Obesity, Being tall, Alcohol, Radiation, HRT, Nulliparous , Having BRCA genes etc .

Women ages 45 to 54 should have a mammogram each year and those 55 years and over should continue getting mammograms every 1 to 2 years.

4. Risk factors for testicular cancer are :-

- UNDERSCENDED TESTICLES = the babies testicles should have moved down by the age of 1, if not they may have a higher risk of getting testicular cancer.

- AGE AND RACE = testicular cancer is more common in young and middle aged men affecting those between 20 and 44 years of age, with 90% of cases affecting men under the age of 55.

- more common in white men.

- FAMILY HISTORY = having a close relative with a history of testicular cancer , this increases your risk of developing it.

- father = 4-6 times more likely

- brother = 8-10 times more likely.

- INFERTILITY = men who are infertile are three times more likely to develop testicular cancer than fertile men.

- SMOKING = long term smokers - 20 cigarettes a day for 12 years are twice more likely to develop testicular cancer.

- HIV AND AIDS = people who have had HIV and AID's have an increased risk of testicular cancer.

#. Symptoms :-

the most common symptom of testicular cancer is a lump or swelling in one or both of your testicles.

- the lump or swelling can be about the size of a pea or larger.

OTHER SYMPTOMS:

- a dull ache or sharp pain in the testicles or scrotum, which may come and go.

- a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum.

- a dull ache in the lower abdomen (stomach area)

- a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum.

- feeling fatigue.

- a general feeling of being unwell.

METASTATIC CANCER: = if testicular cancer or other cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

- around 5% of people with testicular cancer will experience symptoms of metastatic cancer.

- most common place for testicular cancer to spread to is nearby lymph nodes in the abdomen or lungs.

- symptoms include:

. persistent cough

. coughing or spitting up blood

.shortness of breath

#. Treatment plan will depend on two factors:

- whether it is seminomas or non seminomas.

- the stage of cancer.

the first treatment option for all cases of testicular cancer, what ever the stage is to surgically remove the affected testicle (archidectomy).