Case#3

How do chemotherapy and radiation therapy act as treatments for cancer?

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are both designed to slow and/or stop the growth of cancerous cells.

Why does chemotherapy cause the side effects of hair loss and nausea?

Because they divided cells both hair cells and epithelial cells

How are benign and malignant tumors similar and different from each other?

Benign tumors are usually encircled by connective tissue and do not demonstrate significant invasion of the underlying tissues. These tumors usually resemble the tissue type that gave rise to the tumor. Benign tumors are usually encircled by connective tissue and do not demonstrate significant invasion of the underlying tissues. These tumors usually resemble the tissue type that gave rise to the tumor. When the cancer cells contact another organ that would allow growth, the cancer cells express surface proteins allowing for the contact and subsequent invasion of the new host tissue.

Describe the anatomy of the skin and the relationship of these layers to the type of cancer that Seth presents with.

Since these tumors do not grow rapidly, the damage done by basal cell carcinomas can be minimize through prompt identification and removal.

Identify both the primary risk factors that Seth presents with and other risk factors that may or may not be related to Seth's case.

The primary risk factors that Seth presents with are accumulated exposure to the sun over his lifetime and his genetic background. Other risk factors include environmental exposure to carcinogens and/or ionizing radiation

What are oncogenes and how are they believed to be related to cancer?

They are believed to be mutated forms of genes involved in the regulation of cellular growth or apoptosis. It is believed that prior to activation, these genes exist as proto-oncogenes