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© Citizenship Foundation Charity Reg No 801360 Author: M. Heath www.gogivers.org

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In this lesson we will find out about cancer and how it is cured.

We will also think about how it might affect families, and what we can do to support them.

Understanding Cancer

Not long ago people used to call cancer ‘The Big C’. People were very frightened of it because doctors didn’t know how to cure it. Now it’s cancer’s turn to be afraid!

C

Nowadays scientists keep discovering new ways to treat cancer. This means that more and more people are successfully cured.

We expect that one day scientists will beat it completely, just as they defeated smallpox and polio in the past.

Most of the time, cancer affects older people. Very few children get cancer, but when they do it can very often be treated and cured. The number of children who beat cancer is going up all the time.

In a large football stadium packed with children, probably only one child in that stadium would have cancer.

Doctors still aren’t sure why some people get cancer and others don't. However, they do know that cancer isn’t catching as it isn't caused by germs, like colds or flu.

There’s no need to be worried about playing with, or hugging, someone with cancer.

Children don’t get cancer from anything they do either, but some unhealthy habits, especially smoking or drinking too much alcohol, can make you a lot more likely to get cancer when you get older.

Normally our cells grow and divide to make more cells when the body needs them. This process helps us grow and keeps our bodies healthy.

So what is cancer?

Sometimes, however, cells keep dividing when new cells aren’t needed. These extra cells form a growth, or tumour.

There are two different kinds of tumour. A benign tumour can usually be removed. It doesn’t spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumours are cancer. They can spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.

MalignantBenign

Good, harmless

Bad, harmful

Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they begin. For example, cancer that begins in the lung is called lung cancer.

There are more than 100 types of cancer. Each type is treated differently.

Doctors treat cancer with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation — or sometimes a combination of these treatments.

When people have an operation to remove their tumour, the doctor tries to take out as many cancer cells as possible. Some healthy cells or tissue may also be removed to make sure that all the cancer is gone.

Chemotherapy is a special medicine that flows from a bag through a tiny plastic tube into a vein in the arm. As the medicine goes through the body it attacks the cancer cells. ‘Chemo’ is usually given over several weeks or months.

Radiation therapy uses invisible waves that can pass through most parts of the body to destroy cancer cells. It can shrink tumours and often make them disappear completely.

While radiation and anti-cancer drugs are very good at destroying cancer cells they may also destroy some healthy cells. This can make patients feel tired or sick. Some people may not feel like eating, and some may lose their hair.

These side effects go away and hair grows back when the treatment is over.

Before

After

While children are being treated for cancer, they might not be able to come to school or mix with crowds of people because they will need to avoid getting infections, and get lots of rest.

After they have treated their patients, doctors carry out tests to see if the cancer is still there. If the doctor can’t find signs of cancer the patient is in ‘remission’. Sometimes extra chemo or radiation is needed to stop cancer cells from coming back.

Do you know what these charities do?

Glossary

• Cells – the smallest building blocks of life

• Tumour – a swelling in or on the body

• Benign – harmless, good • Malignant – harmful, bad • Chemotherapy – anti-cancer

medicine • Radiation – invisible rays of energy

The Learning Activities Document completes this lesson:

• Supporting People with Cancer

• A Day in the Life of a Young

Carer

• Keeping Healthy

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activities.