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Cancer BasicsCancer Basics The abnormal, uncontrolled growth of The abnormal, uncontrolled growth of

cells, which if left untreated, can cells, which if left untreated, can ultimately cause deathultimately cause death

85 million Americans will develop cancer 85 million Americans will develop cancer at some time in their livesat some time in their lives

Benign tumors: do not spread to Benign tumors: do not spread to neighboring tissuesneighboring tissues

Malignant tumors: can invade Malignant tumors: can invade surrounding structures and spread to surrounding structures and spread to distant sitesdistant sites

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CancerCancer_ Cells dividing Cells dividing

uncontrollably uncontrollably form an initial form an initial visible mass or visible mass or "primary" tumor. "primary" tumor. Once cells from Once cells from the primary tumor the primary tumor break off, break off, secondary tumors secondary tumors develop. All new develop. All new secondary tumors secondary tumors are labeled by the are labeled by the type of the primary type of the primary tumor.tumor.

High---- --Low

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Common CancersCommon Cancers Lung cancer Lung cancer

– responsible for nearly 157,000 deaths each responsible for nearly 157,000 deaths each yearyear

– 87% of cases involve tobacco smoke87% of cases involve tobacco smoke Colon and rectal cancer Colon and rectal cancer

– linked to diet and genetic predisposition linked to diet and genetic predisposition Breast cancer Breast cancer

– most common cancer in womenmost common cancer in women Prostate cancer Prostate cancer

– most common cancer in menmost common cancer in men

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Cancers of the Female Cancers of the Female Reproductive TractReproductive Tract

Cervical cancer Cervical cancer – more than 80% of cases are sexually more than 80% of cases are sexually

transmittedtransmitted– Pap test used for screeningPap test used for screening

Uterine (endometrial) cancer Uterine (endometrial) cancer – most often occurs after age 55most often occurs after age 55

Ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer – rare and difficult to detectrare and difficult to detect

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Skin CancerSkin Cancer Caused by excessive exposure to Caused by excessive exposure to

ultraviolet (UV) radiation ultraviolet (UV) radiation 3 types of skin cancer3 types of skin cancer

– basal cell basal cell – squamous cell squamous cell – melanoma melanoma

Use sunscreen and wear protective Use sunscreen and wear protective clothingclothing

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Other CancersOther Cancers

Oral cancerOral cancer– cancers of the lip, tongue, mouth, throat cancers of the lip, tongue, mouth, throat – primarily traced to smoking, spit primarily traced to smoking, spit

tobacco, excessive alcohol consumptiontobacco, excessive alcohol consumption– more than twice as common in men as in more than twice as common in men as in

womenwomen Testicular cancerTesticular cancer– most common cancer in men age 29-35 most common cancer in men age 29-35

Bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, Bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemias, lymphomasleukemias, lymphomas

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Cancer Risk FactorsCancer Risk Factors

TobaccoTobacco Diet and obesityDiet and obesity Sedentary lifestyleSedentary lifestyle Family history of cancerFamily history of cancer Occupational factorsOccupational factors Viruses and other biological agentsViruses and other biological agents AlcoholAlcohol Environmental pollutionEnvironmental pollution Ultraviolet radiationUltraviolet radiation

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Preventing CancerPreventing Cancer

Avoid tobaccoAvoid tobacco Control diet and weightControl diet and weight Exercise regularlyExercise regularly Protect skin from sunProtect skin from sun Avoid environmental and occupational Avoid environmental and occupational

carcinogenscarcinogens Follow ACS screening guidelinesFollow ACS screening guidelines