Decoding Cancer
Decoding Cancer
Decoding Cancer
Outline Explanation:
The risk of dying from breast cancer is not
Legend:
Remember Previous
increasing in the United States. This graphic
Lecturer Book
(Exams) Trans shows that in 1980, 31.7 women and 0.3 men
per 100,000 people died per year. In 2010, the
number of women who died per 100,000 people
Heading 1 was 21.9. The total decreased from 18.0 to 12.2.
Heading 2
• The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Question 2:
▪ The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Cancer can be spread from person to person.
• The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Subheading
FALSE.
Decoding Cancer Cancer cannot be
Steve and Nikki are fraternal twins in high passed from one person
school. They recently learned that their to another. Though cancer
mother has been diagnosed with cancer. itself isn’t contagious, sometimes viruses, which
They have no idea what this really means for are contagious, can lead to the development of
their mom and for them. cancer.
WHAT IS CANCER? Explanation:
Mom has a doctor’s appointment so she can’t The following is further explanation of viruses
make my game. Dad said he would leave that can lead to cancer: Two common cancers
work early to make the game. I’m glad he’s caused by viruses are cervical cancer and liver
coming but I wish mom could make it and I cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually
wonder if we should just stay home. transmitted disease, can cause cervical cancer.
I still don’t know what cancer really is and And hepatitis C, a virus transmitted through
Nikki and I don’t want to bug mom and dad. sexual intercourse or use of infected intravenous
Can someone just tell me what exactly is (IV) needles, can cause liver cancer, though only
cancer? a small number of those with the virus will
develop liver cancer.
Question 1:
The risk of dying from cancer in the United Question 3:
States is increasing. What someone does as a young adult has
FALSE. little effect on their chance of getting cancer
The risk of dying from cancer in the United States later in life.
has decreased from 1975 to 2012.
FALSE.
US Mortality Files, National Center for Health Most cases of cancer are the consequence of
Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and many years of exposure to several risk factors.
Prevention. Rates are per 100,000 and are
age-adjusted to the 2000 US Std Population Explanation:
(19 age groups - Census P25-1130). Source: What you eat, whether you are physically active,
National Cancer Institute. SEER Statistics whether you are sunburned, and especially
Review 1975-2006. whether you smoke as a young person have a
substantial influence on whether you develop
cancer later in life.
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[SUB] 1.01 TITLE OF LECTURE – Dr. Professor
They are patient and family advocates. need them, and old cells do not die when they
They provide assistance in coping with the should.
diagnosis to patients and families all along
the disease continuum, teach relaxation Instructor Notes
techniques to reduce anxiety, lead psycho-
educational support groups, help individuals Question 9:
transition to survivorship, and conduct Cancer can only occur in specific cells in the
research about all of the above! body.
They also provide support to our colleagues FALSE.
around burnout and compassion fatigue to The body is made up of many types of cells, and
help them manage the stressors and loss all cancer begins in cells. Cancer can develop in
associated with working in oncology. any cell in the body, which is why there are so
many different types.
Question 7:
Cancer is a group of over 100 diseases. Question 10:
TRUE. Cancer develops because of abnormal gene
The main categories of cancer include: function.
Carcinoma TRUE.
Sarcoma Scientists have learned that cancer is caused by
Leukemia changes in genes that normally control the
Lymphoma and myeloma growth and death of cells. Certain lifestyle and
Central nervous system cancers environmental factors can change some normal
genes into genes that allow the growth of cancer.
Explanation:
Main categories of cancer: Explanation:
• Carcinoma: cancer that begins in the skin or Many gene changes that lead to cancer are the
in tissues that line or cover internal organs result of tobacco use, poor diet, exposure to
• Sarcoma: cancer that begins in bone, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, or
cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing
connective or supportive tissue substances) in the workplace or in the
• Leukemia: cancer that starts in blood- environment. Some gene alterations are
forming tissue, such as the bone marrow, inherited (from one or both parents).
and causes large numbers of abnormal However, having an inherited gene alteration
blood cells to be produced and enter the does not always mean that the person will
blood develop cancer; it only means that their chance
• Lymphoma and myeloma: cancers that of getting cancer is increased.
begin in the cells of the immune system
• Central nervous system cancers: cancers Learning about cancer
that begin in the tissues of the brain and Nikki has a lot of questions and Steve is not
spinal cord sure how to help answer them. What would
you want to know if you were in their shoes?
Question 8:
Cancer cells can be distinguished from What’s happening inside?
normal cells because of their abnormal I remember learning about the phases of the
growth. cell cycle, but don’t understand the deal with
TRUE. cancer. I wonder what mom
Normally, cells grow and divide to produce more went through before now!
cells as they are needed to keep the body I really want to help but I just
healthy. Sometimes, this orderly process goes keep wondering about what’s
wrong. New cells form when the body does not going to happen.
Also, will I get cancer, too?
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[SUB] 1.01 TITLE OF LECTURE – Dr. Professor
Page 4 of 6
[SUB] 1.01 TITLE OF LECTURE – Dr. Professor
Discussions….
everyone has tumor suppressor genes and
proto-oncogenes. Normally, both works fine
and cells do not grow out of control.
that However, mutations in either or both of
these types of genes change their function,
Discussion which may lead to cancer.
there are two types of mutation that can lead the cells in Tumor Suppressor Gene Mutation
to uncontrolled cell division and cancer: and Proto-Oncogene Mutation would go
Tumor Suppressor Gene Mutations and through apoptosis; however, cancer cells
Proto-oncogene Mutations. avoid apoptosis and keep growing and
dividing, resulting in a tumor.
Refer to Video 3 (Animated Introduction to Proto-oncogenes are a dominant gene
Cancer Biology) mutation so only one allele needs to be
mutated to cause cancer.
Tumor Suppressor Gene Mutations
When a tumor suppressor gene is mutated, Proto-oncogenes are like the gas pedal of a
there is loss of function resulting in cell cycle car.
checkpoint failure and uncontrolled division of If the gas pedal gets stuck in the “on”
abnormal cells. position, a car keeps moving whether the
pedal is pushed or not.
Discussion…. Similarly, when a proto-oncogene mutates
everyone has tumor suppressor genes and into an oncogene, a cell will keep dividing
proto-oncogenes. Normally, both work fine even when there are no messages to divide
and cells do not grow out of control. Gene function is activated
However, mutations in either or both of these
types of genes change their function, which Instructor Notes
may lead to cancer. Explain to students that most cancers
the cells in Tumor Suppressor Gene have both loss of brakes and the gas
Mutation and Proto-Oncogene Mutation pedal on. Note that this is the same
would go through apoptosis; however, graphic students saw on Slide 17 – the
cancer cells avoid apoptosis and keep repetition of this graphic is meant for
growing and dividing, resulting in a tumor. reinforcement of the concept.
This is a recessive mutation so both alleles
in the gene need to be mutated to cause the
cancer.
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[SUB] 1.01 TITLE OF LECTURE – Dr. Professor
Instructor Notes
Tell students they are going to
demonstrate their understanding of the
relationship between the cell cycle and the
development of cancer by acting out the
cell cycles of healthy and cancerous cells.
Remind students that everyone has tumor
suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes.
Normally, both genes work fine and cells
do not grow out of control. However,
mutations in either or both of these types
of genes change their function, which may
lead to cancer. There are three different
scenarios: Normal Cell Division, Tumor
Suppressor Gene Mutation, and Proto-
Oncogene Mutation.
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