1. What is the most important procedure in diagnosing the correct cancer and histology?
Tissue Biopsy
2. Blood tests for tumor markers are the single
... [Show More] best screening tool for cancer. Why or why not?
False, they are elevated in benign conditions, most are not elevated in the early stages of malignancy.
3. List two signs or symptoms a patient may present with that might indicate a cancer diagnosis:
Bleeding; sore that doesn’t heal; fluid in the pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal spaces; chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, abdominal discomfort or swelling. Other possible answers can include a mass or lump, pain (need to be specific), fatigue, fevers, weight loss
4. What are two systemic manifestations of cancer exhibited by cancer patients? Weight loss, wasting of body fat and muscle tissue, weakness, anorexia, and anemia, fatigue, sleep disturbances
5. Explain the TNM system:
a. T is the size and local spread of the primary tumor.
b. N is the involvement of the regional lymph nodes.
c. M is the extent of the metastatic involvement.
6. What are the three possible goals of cancer treatment?
Curative, control, palliative
a.How does radiation kill cancer cells?
Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves to destroy or damage cancer cells. This leads to the creation of free radicals, which damage cell structures. Radiation can interrupt the cell cycle process, kill cells, or damage DNA in the cells.
7. Cell proliferation is the process in which proliferating cells become more specialized cell types.
False, cell differentiation
8. What are two important properties that stem cells possess? Potency and self-renewal
9. These are cells of the same lineage that have not yet differentiated to the extent that they have lost their ability to divide: progenitor or parent cells
10. Cell differentiation is the process of increasing cell numbers by mitotic cell division. False, cell proliferation
11. Define polyp. Are they benign or malignant?
a. A polyp is a growth that projects from a mucosal surface, such as the intestine. A polyp can be benign or malignant
12. How do cancer cells achieve immortality?
a. Cancer cells keep high levels of telomerase, an enzyme that prevents telomere shortening. This gives the ability of the chromosomes to continue to replicate forever.
13. What is a tumor suppressor gene? Give one example.
a. Tumor suppressor genes are associated with gene underactivity. These genes slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or tell cells when to die. BRCA1 or 2, TP53 [Show Less]