CANCER

Dr Raymond Arhin

2007

• Breast cancer in a mastectomy specimen (top). The cancerous tumour (pale yellow) resembles the figure of a crab, giving the disease its name.

What is CANCER?

• Cancer is a disease characterized by cells that

• grow and divide without respect to normal limits,

• invade and destroy adjacent tissues,

• and may spread to distant sites by metastasis

Epidemiology

• Cancer affects 1 in 3 of us in our lifetime.

• Over 70% of cancers happen to people who are over the age of 60

• Cancer can affect people of all ages

• Cancer causes about 13% of all death

Male Female

Most common Cause of death Most common Cause of death

prostate cancer (33%) lung cancer (31%) breast cancer (32%) lung cancer (27%)

prostate cancer (10%) prostate cancer (10%)

Lung Cancer(15%) Breast Cancer (15%)

Colorectal cancer(10%)

Colorectal cancer(10%)

Colorectal cancer(11%)

Colorectal cancer(10%)

Bladder cancer(5%) Pancreatic cancer(7%)

Endometrial cancer(6%)

Ovarian cance(6%)

Melanoma(4%) Leukaemia(5%) Lymphoma(4%) Pancreatic ca (6%)

SYMPTOMS- Local symptoms:

• unusual lumps or swelling (tumor),

• hemorrhage (bleeding),

• pain and/or ulceration.

• Compression of surrounding tissues may cause symptoms such as jaundice.

Symptoms of metastasis (spreading):

• Enlarged lymph nodes,

• Cough, especially blood in cough,

• enlarged liver,

• bone pain, fracture of affected bones.

• Although advanced cancer may cause pain, it is often not the first symptom.

Systemic symptoms:

• weight loss,

• poor appetite and severe weight loss,

• excessive sweating especially at night,

• anemia

Diagnosis

• Cancers are recognized either because-• signs or symptoms appear,• screening. • Biopsy• A cancer may be suspected for a variety of

reasons, but the definitive diagnosis of most malignancies must be confirmed by histological examination of the cancerous cells by a pathologist.

Investigation

.• These commonly include

blood tests, X-rays, CT scans and a camera test(endoscopy).

• Chest x-ray showing lung cancer in the left lung.

Treatment

Cancer can be treated by

• surgery,

• chemotherapy,

• radiation therapy,

• immunotherapy,

• other methods.

Prognosis

• Cancer has a reputation for being a deadly disease.

• With modern treatment the peognosis is improving and actually much better than heart attack or stroke in some cases.

Causes

• Chemical carcinogens• Substances that cause DNA

mutations are known as mutagens, or carcinogens.

• Tobacco smoking is associated with lung cancer and bladder cancer.

• Prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers is associated with mesothelioma.

• Alcohol is associated with stomach, oesophageal, liver,mouth cancer.

• Radiation• Infectious diseases• Hormonal

imbalances• Immune system

imbalances• Heriditary

Prevention

• Modifiable ("lifestyle") risk factors• Alcohol consumption (associated with increased

risk of oral, esophageal, breast, and other cancers),

• smoking • physical inactivity (associated with increased risk

of colon, breast, and possibly other cancers), • overweight (associated with colon, breast,

endometrial, and possibly other cancers).

Diet• Obesity increases the risk of developing cancer.• Diet- Particular dietary practices often explain differences in cancer

incidence in different countries (e.g. gastric cancer is more common in Japan, while colon cancer is more common in the United States).

• Reduced red meat consumption is associated with decreased risk of colon cancer.

• Studies have linked consumption of grilled meat to an increased risk of stomach cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer, a phenomenon which could be due to the presence of carcinogens such as benzopyrene in foods cooked at high temperatures.

• Consumption of a plant-based diet and lifestyle changes resulted in a reduction in cancer

• Vitamins

screening

• Breast cancer screening can be done by breast self-examination, ot mammograms Colorectal cancer -fecal occult blood testing and colonoscopy,

• Cervical cytology testing (using the Pap smear) leads to the identification and excision of precancerous lesions. Testicular self-examination is recommended for men beginning at the age of 15 years to detect testicular cancer.

• Prostate cancer -digital rectal exam along with prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood testing.