Cancer

Definition

• A group of neoplastic diseases in which normal body cells become malignant ones– NEOPLASTIC- new or abnormal

growth, uncontrolled and progressive– MALIGNANT-become progressively

worse and to result in death; tend to be invasive

Statistics

• Breast CA most common cancer in women

• Prostate CA most common cancer in men

• African American women lower survival rate

• African American men occurs earlier and lower survival rate

Causes of Cancer

• External Factors– Carcinogenic agents or radiation

• Internal Factor– Hormones– Immune conditions– Inherited mutations

Factors that contribute

• Environmental– Maybe account for 50%– Exposure may have been many years

before

• Hereditary• Biological

– Viruses– Hormone– Chance increases with age

Classifications of Cancer

• Sarcomas– Mesenchymal like bone or muscle– Very destructive and rapid grower

• Carcinomas– Epithelial tissue like breast, stomach,

uterus, skin

• Blood

• Nerve

Characteristic Benign Malignant

Mode of growth Slow

Encapsulated

Rapid

Invades surrounding tissue

Microscopic

Exam

Look like tissue of origin

Appears abnormal

Spread Localized Metastasis—lymph to blood and other tissue

Recurrence Rare Common

Pathogenesis May produce symptoms of pressure

Pain often

Fatal