Cancer Intro

CANCER

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Cancer: from the Latin cancer or cancrum, meaning crab. ancient Greek physician Galen noted the similarity between a certain type of tumor with a crab as well--the swollen veins around the tumor resembling the legs of a crab.

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In English: Cancer, the disease, dates to about the year 1000. The astronomical sign was introduced into English about 1391 and appears in Chaucer.

CANCER IS A GROUP OF MORE THAN 200 DISEASES 

UNCONTROLLED GROWTH OF CELLS

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SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE U.S. MORE THAN 500,000 AMERICANS WILL DIE FROM CANCER THIS YEAR

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INCIDENCE AND DEATH RATES 

HIGHER IN AFRICAN AMERICANS THAN IN WHITES

WHY DO AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE HIGHER INCIDENCE AND MORBIDITY OF CANCER?

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ENVIRONMENT

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SOCIAL FACTORS

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NUTRITION

CANCER CAN DEVELOP ANYWHERE IN THE BODY        

SKIN LUNG BRAIN BREAST PROSTATE COLON OVARIAN LEUKEMIA

WHAT GOES WRONG? 

DEFECTIVE GROWTH OF CELLS

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DEFECTIVE DIFFERENTIATION OF CELLS

DEFECT IN CELLULAR PROLIFERATION 

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NORMALLY NUMBER OF NEW CELLS EQUALS THE NUMBER OF CELLS THAT HAVE DIED/DEGENERATED. OR, PROLIFERATION IN RESPONSE TO PERCEIVED NEED (EX: INFECTION = INCREASED WBC) RATE OF PROLIFERATION IS DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT CELLS

RATE OF PROLIFERATION 

BONE MARROW, HAIR, EPITHELIAL LINING = RAPID PROLIFERATION

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MYOCARDIUM, NEURONS, AND CARTILAGE DO NOT HAVE PROLIFERATION

DEFECTIVE GROWTH:RATE OF PROLIFERATION 

LOSS OF CONTROL OF PROLIFERATION MAY RESULT FROM MUTATION OF THE STEM CELLS.

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MUTATED STEM CELLS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME MALIGNANT (STEM CELL THEORY).

WHAT GOES WRONG? 

DEFECTIVE GROWTH OF CELLS

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DEFECTIVE DIFFERENTIATION OF CELLS

DEFECTIVE DIFFERENTIATION OF CELLS 

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ALL BODY CELLS ARE DERIVED FROM THE FERTILIZED OVA. DIFFERENTIATION MEANS THE MATURE CELLS PERFORMS ONLY ONE FUNCTION. NORMALLY, CELLS DO NOT DEDIFFERENTIATE

DEFECTIVE DIFFERENTIATION OF CELLS 

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GENE MUTATIONS (ALTERATION) MAY RESULT IN UNCONTROLLED GROWTH OF ABNORMAL CELLS OR CELLS MAY DIVIDE PREMATURELY. ONCOGENES – TUMOR-INDUCING PROTOONCOGENES – REGULATE CELLULAR PROCESSES

STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF CANCER 

INITIATION – mutation in cell

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PROMOTION – proliferation of the altered cell

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PROGRESSION – increased growth rate, invasiveness, and metastasis

CARCINOGENS – CANCER CAUSING AGENTS 

CHEMICAL

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RADIATION

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VIRAL

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SOME GENETIC ANOMALIES

ROLE OF NURSES IN HEALTH PROMOTION PREVENTION OF CANCER

ROLE OF NURSES IN HEALTH PROMOTION 

PUBLIC ATTITUDES

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IDENTIFYING THOSE AT HIGH RISK

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ACS GUIDELINES FOR SCREENING

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ACT AS ROLE MODELS FOR HEALTHY LIVE STYLE

ROLE OF NURSES IN HEALTH PROMOTION

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TEACH DANGER SIGNALS (CAUTION)

ACS WARNING SIGNS     

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Change in bowel/bladder A sore that doesn’t heal Unusual bleeding/discharge Thickening/lump Indigestion/difficulty swallowing Obvious change: mole Nagging cough/hoarseness

PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CANCER    

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REDUCE OR AVOID EXPOSURE BALANCED DIET REGULAR EXERCISE ADEQUATE, CONSISTENT REST (6-8 HOURS) REGULAR HEALTH EXAM (HISTORY, PHYSICAL, SCREENING TESTS) REDUCE/MANAGE STRESS

PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CANCER   

RELAXATION AND LEISURE PRACTICE SELF EXAMINATION SEEK IMMEDIATE CARE IF YOU NOTICE A CHANGE – EARLY DETECTION HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON PROGNOSIS

Diagnosis of Cancer  

Testing and waiting Diagnostic workup: 

Health history    

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Present complaints Family history Exposure to carcinogens Chronic inflammation or immune suppression Medications

Diagnosis of Cancer  

Physical exam Tests   

Biopsy Lab analysis of blood /body fluids/cells X-ray or scans

Goals of Cancer Care    

Cell type Location Size Extent

Cure? Control? Palliation?

Surgery    

Cure Support Palliative Rehabilitation

Support