Understanding Cancer

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Understanding Cancer
ucan
Utah Cancer Action Network
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What Is Cancer?

• Cancer is a large group of diseases (over 200)
  characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread
  of abnormal cells.

American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and
Figures 2005
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Normal Cells Vs. Cancer Cells

• Cancer cells
• Lose control over growth and multiplication
• Do not self-destruct when they become worn out or
  damaged
• Crowd out healthy cells

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Growth of Cancer Cells

• Cancer cells reproduce every 2-6 weeks.

2-6 weeks

• Size of cancer cells
• One million cancer cells head of a pin
• One billion cancer cells a small grape
• 230 1,073,741,824 1 billion cells

2-6 weeks
2-6 weeks
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Signs and Symptoms of Cancer

• Change in bowel habits or bladder functions
• Sores that do not heal
• Unusual bleeding or discharge
• Lumps or thickening of breast or other parts of
  the body
• Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
• Recent change in wart or mole
• Persistent coughing or hoarseness

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Types of Cancers

• Carcinomas (cells that cover internal and
  external body surfaces)

Leukemia (Blood Cells)
Lung
Lymphomas (Lymph nodes tissues)
Breast
Colon
Bladder
Sarcomas Cells in supportive tissues bones
muscles
Prostate (Men)
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What Causes Cancer?
Family History
Lifestyle
Environment
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Lifestyle Risks

• Smoking
• Diet high fat and low in fruits and vegetables
• Lack of exercise
• Unprotected exposure to the sun, (UV) rays
• Obesity

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Environmental Risks

• Second hand smoke
• Air pollution
• Industrial pollution
• Chemical exposures

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Inherited Risks

• Less than 15 of cancers are inherited
• Gene mutations are linked to some inherited
  cancers
• Cancers that may be caused by inherited gene
  mutations are
• Colon cancer
• Breast cancer
• Ovarian
• Prostate cancer
• Skin cancer

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Screening Tests and Self-exams

• Screening tests
• Colon
• Breast
• Cervical
• Prostate
• Self-exams
• Testicular
• Skin

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Why Screening Tests?
The treatment of cancer is most successful when
the cancer is detected as early as possible,
often before symptoms occur.
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Colon Cancer

• Most colon cancers start as a polyp
• Removing polyps can prevent colon cancer

• A polyp

• Advanced bleeding cancer

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Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines

• Age of 50 and older younger if there is a
  family history
• Yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or
• Yearly FOBT and sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or
• Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years or
• Colonoscopy every 10 years

Of the options above ACS prefers yearly FOBT and
Sigmoidoscopy every five years
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Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines

• Yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and
  continuing for as long as a woman is in good
  health.
• Clinical breast exams (CBE) should be part of a
  periodic health exam, about every three years for
  women in their 20s and 30s and every year for
  women 40 and over.

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Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines

• Women should report any breast change promptly to
  their health care providers. Breast self-exam
  (BSE) is an option for women for women starting
  in their 20s.
• Women at increased risk (e.g., family history,
  genetic tendency, past breast cancer ) should
  talk with their doctors about the benefits and
  limitations of starting mammography screening
  earlier, having additional tests (e.g., breast
  ultrasound or MRI), or having more frequent
  exams.

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Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

• Annual pap testing should begin with the onset of
  sexual activity or at age 18
• Investigate pros cons of new HPV vaccine
• Pap testing should continue less frequently at
  the discretion of the medical provider and
  patient after three or more annual tests have
  been normal

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Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines

• Men should speak to their doctor about the pros
  and cons of prostate cancer screening
• Both prostate specific antigen (PSA) and digital
  rectal examinations (DRE) are recommended for men
  over 50 and who choose to undergo screening for
  prostate cancer

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Testicular Cancer Screening Guidelines

• Doctors agree that examination of a mans
  testicles is an important part of a general
  physical exam. It is recommended that a
  testicular exam be conducted during routine
  cancer-related checkups.
• It is believed that it is important to make men
  aware of testicular cancer and that any unusual
  mass should be evaluated by a health care
  provider immediately.

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Skin Cancer

• The ABCDs of melanoma (skin cancer)
• Asymmetry one half is not like the other
• Border the edges are jagged or irregular
• Color the color is varied, tan, red, black ect
• Diameter the diameter is larger than 8mm (the
  top of a pencil eraser

A B C D
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Skin Cancer Prevention

• It is important to
• Protect your skin with hats, long sleeves and
  sunscreen
• Do a self examination of your skin monthly
• Become familiar with any moles, freckles or other
  abnormalities on your skin
• Check for changes once a month. Show any
  suspicious or changing areas to your health care
  provider.

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Good News!

• Other Ways to Reduce the Risks of Developing
  Cancer

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How Far Have We Come ?

• Five year survival rate
• 1913 - 10
• 2003 - 66
• Advances in cancer research continue

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The Fight Will Continue Becausein 2007

• Cancer is the second leading cause of death in
  Utah and the nation
• 7660 Utahns diagnosed
• 2690 Utahns will die
• 7 Utahns die of cancer every day

American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and
Figures 2007
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Avoid Smoking or Chewing Tobacco

• Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of
  preventable death in the US
• Second hand smoke affects everyone

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Fruits and Vegetables Decrease Cancer Risks

• Cancer rates could decline by up to 20 if
  everyone consumed 5 fruits and vegetables a day!
  
• Cancer fighting substances
• Antioxidants
• Dietary fiber
• Carotenoids
• Flavenoids

American Institute for Cancer Research, 1998.
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Limit Alcohol to No More Than

• Men 2 drinks per day
• Women - 1 drink per day

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Reduce Your Skin Exposure to the Sun

• Limit time outside, between 10 a.m. 4 p.m.
• Wear protective clothing. Use wide-brimmed hats
  and sunglasses.
• Prevent sunburns, especially for children under
  18. Use waterproof sunscreen of SPF 15 or
  higher. Reapply as directed.
• Avoid tanning beds.

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Be ActiveOften

• Exercise for 30 minutes or more at least 4 days a
  week.

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186,550
The number of lives that could be saved each year
if we ate a healthy diet and exercised regularly
186,550
The number of lives that could be saved each year
with no tobacco
American Cancer Society
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ucan
Utah Cancer Action Network
www.ucan.cc 1-800-222-2542