Causes types warning signs testing and treatments for cancer Heredity Cancer is not inherited but one can inherit a predisposition for cancer Certain alleles have been linked to cancer Individuals who inherit those alleles at a greater risk Ex BRCA1 BRCA2 and p53 Radiation Organic chemicals Pollutants Viruses Viruses Oncology study of cancer Carcinomas cancers of the epithelial tissue Adenocarcinomas cancers of glandular Sarcomas cancers of muscle and connective epithelial cells p tissues Leukemias cancers of the blood Lymphoma cancers of lymphatic tissues 1 Causes types warning signs testing and treatments for cancer Change in bowel or bladder habits A sore that does not heal Unusual bleeding or discharge Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing Obvious change in wart or mole Nagging cough or hoarseness A asymmetry B border is irregular C color varies from one area to another D diameter is larger than 6mm Genetic testing can determine if an individual has inherited genetic mutations to a proto onco gene or TSG Much the same as knowing family medical history Tumor marker tests blood tests for tumor antigens antibodies Ex CEA carcinoembryonic antigen antigen can be detected in someone with colon cancer Ex PSA prostate specific antigen test for prostate cancer 2 Causes types warning signs testing and treatments for cancer Surgery Removal of cancerous tissue Radiation therapy X rays or gamma rays are administered with a X rays or gamma rays are administered with a laser beam Causes breaks in DNA too large to repair Chemotherapy Drugs that inhibit DNA replication or disrupt mitotic spindle formation Kills good cells too This explains common side effects Hair loss Hair loss Nausea Fatigue Anti angiogenesis Administer anti angiogenesis factors to inhibit blood vessel growth and essentially starve out the cancer p53 gene therapy retrovirus is injected into the body to deliver the healing p53 gene to cancer cells Once the p53 gene is expressed it will trigger apoptosis of the cancer cells in clinical trials 3 Causes types warning signs testing and treatments for cancer Immunotherapy 1 Genetically engineer antigen presenting cells APCs APCs present foreign antigens to cytotoxic T cells The activated T cells then destroy the cells expressing the foreign antigen APCs can be genetically engineered to express an antigen specific to the tumor so that only the tumor cells are targeted by the immune system Immunotherapy 2 Design killer antibodies Antibodies are designed to bind to tumor specific antigens The antibodies have a chemotherapeutic drug attached that will effect the cancer cells 4
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