What is Cancer?

1. What is Cancer? By Denae Bush

2. Cancer Definition • 1.The disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. • 2.A malignant growth or tumor resulting from such a division of cells.

3. What are some factors that may contribute to the development of cancer? • chemical exposure and diet are two environmental factors that contribute to the development of cancer • Also, radiation, genetics, and chemicals found in tobaccocan contribute to the development of Cancer.

4. What are symptoms of cancer? • Cancer is a group of diseases that can cause almost any sign or symptom. The signs of a certain cancer varies on a particular person and a particular cancer. It will also depend on, how big the cancer is, and how much it affects the body. If a cancer has spread signs can appear in different parts of the body. A cancer may also cause symptoms like fever, or tiredness or weight loss. One example is Pancreas cancer. This can cause back or belly pain. This type of cancer also causes the eyes and skin to look yellow.

5. The difference between benign and malignant tumors • benign tumors are not cancerous where as malignant are and have the ability to "spread" (metastasize) • Benign tumors have capsules, and does not spread to other organs, when malignant ones do not have capsules and can spread. • OR in other words…. Malignant is cancerous. Malignant tumors can invade and destroy nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body. Benign is not cancerous. Benign tumors may grow larger but do not spread to other parts of the body.

6. How is Cancer diagnosed? • There are actually a few ways to diagnose cancer: - Biopsies -The doctor cuts out a small piece of tissue and sends it to a laboratory to be studied. -Imaging tests- These test procedures produce pictures of areas inside the body. They include x-rays, like mammograms, computed tomography CT or CAT scans -Laboratory tests-A laboratory technician measures substances in the blood or urine that can indicate how advanced the cancer is or other features of the cancer -Genomics test-Polymerase chain reaction can find mutations in certain genes that are known to cause cancer.

7. How is Cancer treated? • There are four standard methods of treatment for cancer: • Surgery- surgery may be used to remove the cancer along with any nearby tissue that might contain cancer cells. • Chemotherapy- Depending on the type of cancer and its stage, chemo can be used to cure cancer, to keep the cancer from spreading, to slow the cancer's growth, to kill cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body. • radiation therapy - Radiation destroys or damages cancer cells so they cannot grow. • biologic therapy- They can stop or slow down cancer cell growth, help healthy immune cells control cancer, and help to repair normal cells damaged by other forms of cancer treatment.