CANCER
What is Cancer?
Normal body cells grow, divide, and die.
Sometimes new cells grow when body
doesn’t need them, & old cells don’t die
when they should.
The extra cells form a mass of tissue
called a growth or tumor.
Cancer & DNA
Cancer cells develop because of damage to
DNA.
In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not
repaired.
People can inherit damaged DNA which
accounts for inherited cancers.
More often, a person’s DNA is damaged by
expose to carcinogens.
Tumors
Non-cancerous = Benign
Cancerous = Malignant
Metastasis
Cancer cells travel to other parts of the
body & begin to grow and replace
normal tissue.
How Common is Cancer?
2nd leading cause of death in the US.
1/2 of all men will develop cancer during their
lifetime.
1/3 of all women will develop cancer during
their lifetime.
Who Gets Cancer?
Anyone can, but most cancers occur in
adults over age 55.
About 77% of all cancers are diagnosed
in people over age 55.
About 64% of all people diagnosed with
cancer will be alive 5 years after
diagnosis.
Skin Cancer
Cancers of the skin are the most
common of all cancers.
It accounts for about half of all cancers.
Skin cancers include melanoma and
basal & squamous cell carcinoma.
Basal & Squamous Cell
Carcinoma
BCC is the most common with approximately
800,000 to 900,000 cases.
SCC occurs less often with about 200,000 to
300,000 each year.
People do not usually die from these cancers.
Men get these cancers twice as often than
women.
PREVENTION of non-
melanoma cancers:
Practice sun safety when outdoors. Limit
UV exposure.
“Slip, slop, slap and wrap”
Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap
on a hat and wrap yourself in
sunglasses.
Melanoma Skin Cancer
Begins in the melanocytes.
Melanoma
It is almost always curable in its early
stages, but it is likely to spread to other
parts of the body.
It is less common than BCC & SCC, but
it is much more serious.
Lung Cancer
Leading cause of cancer deaths in the
US among men and women.
It claims more lives each year than
colon, prostate, lymph and breast
cancer combined.
Cigarette smoking causes 82% of these
deaths as well as deaths from several
other types of cancers.
Question:
We know that lung cancer causes the
most cancer deaths in the US, so why
don’t we hear of as many awareness
efforts as we do with other types of
cancers such as breast cancer, colon
cancer or prostate cancer?
Lung Cancer Prevention
Don’t SMOKE!!
Common Signs & Symptoms:
New thickening or lump in breast or any
other part of the body.
New mole or obvious change in
appearance of existing mole or wart.
A sore that does not heal.
Nagging cough or hoarseness.
Common Signs & Symptoms:
Changes in bowel or bladder habits.
Persistent indigestion or difficulty
swallowing.
Unexplained weight loss or weight gain.
Unusual bleeding or discharge.
Cancer Treatment
Surgery
Radiation- uses high energy rays to kill
cancer cells in targeted area.
Chemotherapy- drugs that kill cancer
cells throughout the body.
Hormone therapy- treats certain cancers
that depend on hormones for their
growth.
Cancer Prevention
Do not use tobacco products.
Eat foods with less fat. Eat more fruits,
vegetables and whole grains.
Exercise regularly & maintain healthy
weight.
Avoid harmful rays of the sun. Use
sunscreen.
Wear clothing that protects the skin.