Biology in Human welfare

Human health and Disease - Cancer

• Definition:
• Types of cancer:
  • Carcinoma
  • Sarcoma
  • Lymphoma
  • Leukemia
  • Central nervous system cancers
• Causes of cancer:
  • Genetic factors
  • Environmental factors
  • Lifestyle factors
• Stages of cancer:
  • Stage 0
  • Stage I
  • Stage II
  • Stage III
  • Stage IV
• Diagnosis of cancer:
  • Biopsy
  • Imaging techniques
  • Blood tests
• Treatment options:
  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • Targeted therapy
  • Hormone therapy
• Prevention and control of cancer:
  • Healthy lifestyle choices
  • Vaccination
  • Regular screening
• Examples of common cancers:
  • Breast cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Prostate cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Skin cancer

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• Carcinoma:
  • Arises from epithelial tissues
  • Most common type of cancer
  • Examples: breast, lung, prostate, colon

• Sarcoma:
  • Arises from connective tissues
  • Less common than carcinoma
  • Examples: bone, muscle, fat

• Lymphoma:
  • Arises from lymphocytes
  • Can occur in lymph nodes or other lymphoid tissues
  • Examples: Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

• Leukemia:
  • Arises from blood-forming tissues
  • Characterized by increased number of abnormal white blood cells
  • Examples: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia

• Central nervous system cancers:
  • Arise in the brain or spinal cord
  • Examples: glioma, medulloblastoma

• Genetic factors:
  • Inherited mutations can increase the risk of developing cancer
  • Examples: BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in breast and ovarian cancer

• Environmental factors:
  • Exposure to carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke or asbestos
  • Radiation exposure, such as UV radiation from the sun
  • Examples: lung cancer from smoking, skin cancer from sun exposure

• Lifestyle factors:
  • Unhealthy diet and lack of exercise
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Examples: colorectal cancer from poor diet, liver cancer from alcohol abuse

• Stage 0:
  • Cancer is confined to the original site
  • Not invasive or life-threatening

• Stage I:
  • Cancer has grown and invaded nearby tissues
  • Still localized and often curable with treatment

• Stage II:
  • Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes
  • Still considered localized but at a higher risk of spreading further

• Stage III:
  • Cancer has spread to nearby organs or tissues
  • Considered locally advanced and more difficult to treat

• Stage IV:
  • Cancer has spread to distant parts of the body
  • Considered metastatic and usually incurable

• Biopsy:
  • Removal of a sample of tissue for examination
  • Helps determine if cancer is present and its type

• Imaging techniques:
  • X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasound, PET scans
  • Used to visualize the internal structures of the body and detect tumors

• Blood tests:
  • Measures levels of certain substances in the blood
  • Can indicate the presence or progression of cancer

• Surgery:
  • Removal of the tumor and nearby tissues
  • Can be curative for early-stage cancers

• Radiation therapy:
  • Uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells
  • Can be used before surgery to shrink tumors or after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells

• Chemotherapy:
  • Uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells
  • Often used when cancer has spread or is at an advanced stage

• Immunotherapy:
  • Uses the body’s own immune system to attack cancer cells
  • Examples: checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy

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• Targeted therapy:
  • Targets specific molecules or genes that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells
  • Examples: tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies

• Hormone therapy:
  • Blocks or lowers the levels of certain hormones to stop or slow the growth of hormone-sensitive tumors
  • Examples: tamoxifen for breast cancer, androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer

• Healthy lifestyle choices:
  • Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight
  • Eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, low in processed meats and sugars

• Vaccination:
  • Vaccines are available for certain types of cancer, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent cervical cancer

• Regular screening:
  • Regular screenings can detect cancer at an early stage when it’s most treatable
  • Examples: mammograms for breast cancer, colonoscopies for colorectal cancer

• Breast cancer:
  • Most common cancer in women worldwide
  • Risk factors include age, family history, and hormonal factors
  • Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy

• Lung cancer:
  • Most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide
  • Primarily caused by smoking, but non-smokers can develop lung cancer as well
  • Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy

• Prostate cancer:
  • Most common cancer in men worldwide
  • Risk factors include age, family history, and race
  • Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, and active surveillance

• Colorectal cancer:
  • Cancer of the colon or rectum
  • Risk factors include age, family history, and lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise
  • Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy

• Skin cancer:
  • Most common type of cancer worldwide
  • Risk factors include excessive UV radiation exposure, fair skin, and a history of sunburns
  • Treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy