Chapter 11: Cancer

What percent of people with noticeable cancer symptoms delay three or four months before seeking medical treatment?

30-50%

Carcinogen

A cancer causing agent such as tobacco, ultraviolet radiation, or an environmental toxin.

Early diagnosis

A cancer diagnosis may result in months or years of painful or uncomfortable treatment. This is because cancer develops, overtime, as neoplastic cells grow into tumors that may metastasize to surrounding tissue.

systematic desensitization

A form of behavior therapy, commonly used for overcoming phobias, in which the person is exposed to a series of increasingly fearful situations which remaining deeply relaxed.

melanoma

A potentially deadly form of cancer that strikes the melatonin-containing cells of the skin.

cancer

A set of diseases in which abnormal body cells multiply and spread in uncontrolled fashion, forming a tissue mass called a tumor.

How might perceived stress promote the development of cancer?

According to the immune surveillance theory, are prevented from spreading and developing into tumors by natural killer cells and other agents of the immune system. However when the immune system is overwhelmed by the number of cancer cells or weakened by stress or some other factors, the immune system's surveillance is suppressed, and cancer may develop.

What is the difference between benign and malignant tumors?

Benign tumors tend to remain localized and usually do not pose a threat to one's health. Where as a malignant tumor consists of renegade cells that do not respond to the body's genetic controls on growth and division. It has the ability to migrate from their site of origin and attack or invade surrounding body tissue.

Families in which breast cancer is inherited typically demonstrate the following characteristics:

Breast cancer in two or more close relatives, early onset often before age 50 of breast cancer in family members, history of breast cancer in more than one generation, cancer in both breasts in one or more family members, frequent occurrence of ovarian cancer.

People who are malnourished or consumes big levels of fats, certain food additives, and alcohol are more prevalent to?

Cancer

What is the second leading cause of death in the United States?

Cancer

Leukemia

Cancer of the blood and blood-producing system.

Lymphoma

Cancer of the body;s lymph system: includes Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgskin's lymphoma.

Carcinoma

Cancer of the epithelial cells that line the outer and inner surfaces of the body; includes breast, prostate, lung, and skin cancer.

Sarcoma

Cancer that strikes muscles, bones, and cartilage.

What type of cancer is the most common and accounts for about 85 percent of adult cancers?

Carcinoma

immunotherapy

Chemotherapy in which medications are used to support or enhance the immune system's ability to target cancer cells selectively.

What is the primary factor in as many as one-third of all cancer deaths?

Diet

Females are more commonly diagnosed with ________ and males _________.

Females are commonly diagnosed with breast cancer and males prostate cancer.

carotenoids

Light-absorbing pigments that give carrots, tomatoes, and other foods their color and are rich sources of antioxidant vitamins.

What cancer is the top killer for both males and females?

Lung cancer

Estimated deaths, top 3 for both men and women.

Men - Lung and bronchus, prostate, colon and rectum Women - Lung and bronchus, breast, colon and rectum

Estimated new cases, top three for both men and women.

Men - Prostate, Lung and bronchus, Colon and rectum Women - Breats, Lung and bronchus, Colon and rectum

post-traumatic growth (PTG)

Positive psychological change experienced as the result of struggle with a highly challenging life circumstance. Also referred to as benefit finding, or thriving.

What cancer accounts for 2 percent of all cancers in adults?

Sarcoma

consideration of future consequences (CFC)

The extent to which individuals consider, and are influenced by, the potential future outcomes of their behavior.

immunocompetence

The overall ability of the immune system, at any given time, to defend the body against the harmful effects of foreign agents.

metastasis

The process by which malignant body cells proliferate in number and spread to surrounding body tissues.

comparative optimism

The tendency to think that one will experience more positive and fewer negative events than others.

immune surveillance theory

The theory that cells of the immune system play a motoring function in searching for and destroying abnormal cells such as those that form tumors.

guided imagery

The use of one or more external devices to assist in relaxation and the formation of clear, strong, positive images.

According to the text, in most cases of cancer, controllable factors such as smoking and diet play the most important role. True or false?

True

Tobacco is the most lethal carcinogen in this country. True or False?

True

What can damage DNA and has caused 90 percent of all skin cancers, including Melanoma?

Ultraviolet B rays

What are the two types of tumors?

benign and malignant

Radiation Therapy

delivers high doses of x-rays, gamma rays, or alpha and beta particles to cancerous tumors, killing or damaging them so that they cannot grow, multiply, or spread. It only affects the tumor and the surrounds area.

List reasons why imagery may be beneficial.

imagery triggers a state of realized concentrations that enhances the person's sensitivity to health-promoting images, imagery gives the patient an increased sense of control and a decree sense of helplessness over stressful aspects of disease or treatment, imagery also may work through the placebo effect.

curative surgery

involves the removal of a tumor when the tumor appears to be localized and there is hope of taking out all of the cancerous tissue.

preventive surgery

is performed to remove a growth that is not presently malignant but is likely to become so if left untreated.

chemotherapy

is the use of medicines to treat cancer. It can destroy cancer cells that have spread, or metastasized, to parts of the body far from the original, or primary, tumor.

staging surgery

is used to determine the extent of disease. In laparoscopy, for example, a tube is passed through a tiny incision in the abdomen to examine its contents and remove tissue samples.

diagnostic surgery

is used to obtain a tissue sample for laboratory testing to confirm a diagnosis and identify the specific cancer. A procedure to remove all or part of a tumor for diagnostic tests is called a biopsy.

restorative (or reconstructive) surgery

is used to restore a person's appearance or the function of an organ or body part.

What are the five dietary recommendations that people should follow to help reduce their risk of developing cancer?

reduce intake of foods and drinks that promote weigh gain; foods with high saturated fats, eating mostly plant-based foods, limiting intake of red means and avoiding processed meats, limiting consumption of alcoholic beverages, reducing intake of salt and avoiding moldy cereals or legumes.

Although, alternative medicine may not have been scientifically tested it is safely used to ease one's pain, side effects, symptoms, and improve one's overall quality of life. True or false?

true

An estimated 350,000 cancer patients receive radiation therapy each year, more than half of all cancer cases. True or false?

true

List signs and symptoms of cancer that can be seen by others.

unusual weight loss, fever, unexplained fatigue, pain, yellow, red, or darkened skin, pain or other changes in bladder or bowel habitats, sores that won't heal, white spots on the tongue or inside the mouth, unusual bleeding, any lumps in the breast or other parts of the body, indigestion or difficulty swallowing, any noticeable changes in a wart or mole. persistent cough that won't go away.

Are high frequency radiation, ionizing radiation, and ultraviolet radiation are proven carcinogens?

yes.