Cancer Notes

Causes of Cancer:   

Things you can control:                         

• Diet/Obesity

• Sun Exposure

• Exposure to chemicals

• Lifestyle choices

  • Alcohol and tobacco usage

  Things you cannot control:

• Genetics/Family History

• Age

• Gender

• Hormones

• Certain Illness/infections

Preventions:                                  

• Healthy diet

• Be active

• Avoid excessive sun exposure

• Self exams (Monthly)

• Doctor visits

  • Checkups 

  • Vaccines

    • HPV

    • Hep B

Common Cancer Treatments:

• Surgery 

  • Removes areas affected with cancer

• Radiation

  • Specific areas targeted with radiation to destroy cancer cells

    • Side effects: Varies and could damage surrounding areas

• Chemotherapy

  • Medications used to kill cancer cells

  • Targets whole body (metastasized cells)

    • Side effects: nausea/vomiting, Fatigue, Hair Loss

• Immunotherapy

  • Stimulate the body’s immune system to attack the cancer cells

  • Currently in clinical trials

Breast Cancer Treatment:

• Lumpectomy- Early Stage: Removal of small tumor/lump

• Mastectomy: Single/Double, complete removal, may or may not include surrounding lymph nodes (stage 3 or 4)

• Radiation & Chemotherapy

• Estrogen Blocking Drugs: hopefully reduces recurrence

Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer:

• Age

• Family History

• HPV (Vaccine to prevent) & Herpes Type 2 exposure

In Most Cases, symptoms of cervical cancer are rare

The ABCDE’s of checking Melanoma:

A: Asymmetry                        

B: Border

C: Color                       

D: Diameter

E: Evolving

Skin Cancer Risk Factors:

Light complexion, family history, moles/freckles, suppressed immune system, history of bad sunburns