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4 general types of cancer
- Carcinomas: Skin, lining of organs (most common)
- Sarcomas: Bone, muscle, cartilage
- Leukemias: Blood, blood-forming cells
- Lymphomas: Lymphatic system
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Carcinogenesis
- Alteration in DNA=>Genetic control of cell function
- Weakened immune system=>Fails to detect and repair or destroy cancerous cells
- Tumor promotion factors=>E.G., some tumors have receptors for hormones such as estrogen
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Drop in cancer rate is not due to improved treatment. What is it due to?
High incidence does not always mean "big killer." Why?
- Due to lifestyle changes.
- Breast cancer & prostate cancer have high incidence & high survival.
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Behavior risk factors
- Smoking
- -Risk of lung cancer 9 times higher in smokers
- -Strongest link between any behavior and a major cause of death
- -Smoking/living with a smoker=>breast cancer
- -Smoking may multiply other risks
- -Risk of smoking is under-estimated by smokers
- -Smoking any tobacco product is never safe
- Alcohol
- -Not as strong a risk as smoking, poor diet
- -Related to several cancers, e.g., pancreas, liver, breast, tongue, tonsils, esophagus
- -Multiplies risk of smoking
- Sedentary life style
- Ultraviolet radiation (esp. if fair-skinned)
- Sexually transmitted viruses
- -HIV/AIDS
- -Human papillomavirus=>cervical cancer
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Other cancer risk factors
- Environmental carcinogens
- -Radon gas
- -Radiation
- -Asbestos
- -Industrial chemicals
Social/demographics: age, race/ethnicity, SES
- Biomedical factors
- -Viruses
- -Not having children, not breastfeeding
- -Genetic inheritance
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What are possible dietary carcinogens?
- -Spoiled food
- -Fat/cholesterol
- -Chemical additives
- -Frying/barbecue
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What are possible Dietary Protectors?
- -Vitamins, e.g., E, C, A/beta-carotene
- -Lycopene, polyphenols, flavinoids, anti-oxidants, selenium
- -Fiber
- -Volume of fluid intake
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Compare breast & prostate cancer
- Breast
- -Most common form on cancer in women but not the most deadly
- -Often progresses rapidly
- -Can be promoted by estrogen
- -surgery is indicated for survival
- Prostate
- -Most common form on cancer in men but not the most deadly
- -Often progresses slowly
- -Can be promoted by testosterone
- -NOT clear whether surgery is indicated for survival
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Psychological stress
- PAC/SAM Activity=>suppressed immunity
- -Impaired ability to detect/destroy cancerous cells
- -Greater susceptibility to cancer-producing viruses
- PAC/SAM Activity=>enhanced immunity
- -inflammation
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Type C Personality
- Suppressed emotion, no fighting spirit, avoidance, depression
- Evidence is weak, inconsistent
- Perhaps influences (but doesn't initiate) course of cancer
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Those who want to have/project a desirable social image do these things...
- -Initiation of cigarette smoking
- -Initiation of alcohol consumption
- -Exposing oneself to ultraviolet radiation
- -Engaging in risky sexual practices
- -Identity as key psychosocial issue in adolescence
- -Reluctance to have HPV vaccine/digital prostate exam
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