Cancer (Part 2)Cancer (Part 2)

TreatmentTreatment

SURGERYSURGERY If tumour is easily accessible If tumour is easily accessible

ChemotherapyChemotherapy Treatment of cancer using drugsTreatment of cancer using drugs Slow or stop the cancer cells from Slow or stop the cancer cells from

dividingdividing Or kill the cellsOr kill the cells

Taken by injection or orallyTaken by injection or orally Side effects may include hair loss, Side effects may include hair loss,

nausea, fatigue nausea, fatigue Often used as a follow up to Often used as a follow up to

surgery to get any cancer cells that surgery to get any cancer cells that may have spread (metastasized)may have spread (metastasized)

Radiation

Radiation harms cells that are in the process of dividing – i.e. in mitosis

Since cancerous cells do not stay in interphase as long, they are more affected by radiation than healthy cells

Radiation can be focussed on tumour using a focussed beam or by implanting a radioactive source into the tumour

Radiation often used to shrink tumours so Radiation often used to shrink tumours so that surgery can become an optionthat surgery can become an option

BiophotonicsBiophotonics Newest type of treatmentNewest type of treatment Uses beams of light to detect and treat cancerUses beams of light to detect and treat cancer Fewer side effectsFewer side effects Much of the research in this field is being Much of the research in this field is being

done at University of Toronto!!done at University of Toronto!!

1) A treatment method usingdrugs that are activated byexposure to light.

2) Drug = photosensitizer That generates oxygen radicals when exposed to laser light.

3) Reactive oxygen species can directly kill cancer cells, or Cut off blood (and oxygen supply),which strangles the tumor.

ImmunotherapyImmunotherapy attempts to stimulate the immune system to attempts to stimulate the immune system to

reject and destroy tumors reject and destroy tumors Used for bladder cancerUsed for bladder cancer

Immunotherapy (not showing)Immunotherapy (not showing)

Cancer ScreeningCancer Screening Done in different ways for different cancersDone in different ways for different cancers Especially important if you have a family history Especially important if you have a family history

of cancerof cancer Genetic screeningGenetic screening Breast cancer and testicular cancer: self Breast cancer and testicular cancer: self

examexam Pap test : screens for cervical cancerPap test : screens for cervical cancer Blood testsBlood tests Colonscopy : colon cancerColonscopy : colon cancer

ABCDE’s of Skin Cancer (3)

These are the general characteristics used to identify skin growths of possible concern A – asymmetry – one half doesn’t look like the

other B – border – irregular, ragged or blurred edges C – color – a mixture of colors or marks that

change color D – diameter – a growth more than 6

millimeters across E – evolution – changes in shape, size or color

Detection of Skin Cancer

Images Courtesy of: The Skin Cancer Foundation, www.skincancer.org

AsymmetryBorder

ColorDiameter

Lifestyle ChoicesLifestyle Choices

Avoid smokingAvoid smoking Healthy diet (lots of fruits and vegetables)Healthy diet (lots of fruits and vegetables) `super` foods`super` foods

Tomatoes, carrots, avocados, grapefruit, red Tomatoes, carrots, avocados, grapefruit, red grapes, broccoli, garlic, raspberries, nuts, grapes, broccoli, garlic, raspberries, nuts, cabbage, figscabbage, figs

MYTH: There is no evidence that MYTH: There is no evidence that antiperspirants cause breast cancer.antiperspirants cause breast cancer.

Diagnosing CancerDiagnosing Cancer

Signs: tumour can cause swelling, Signs: tumour can cause swelling, discomfort, tiredness, weight lossdiscomfort, tiredness, weight loss

THE EARLIER CANCER IS DIAGNOSED, THE EARLIER CANCER IS DIAGNOSED, THE BETTER THE CHANCES OF THE BETTER THE CHANCES OF SURVIVALSURVIVAL

Unfortunately, it is not always easy to Unfortunately, it is not always easy to diagnosediagnose

Imaging TechnologiesImaging Technologies

X-rayX-ray

X-rays can penetrate different X-rays can penetrate different tissues,bone, etc to different depths tissues,bone, etc to different depths causing difference on the x-ray filmcausing difference on the x-ray film

X-rays can cause DNA damageX-rays can cause DNA damage Particularly harmful to cells in the process Particularly harmful to cells in the process

of mitosis of mitosis Women who are pregnant should not have Women who are pregnant should not have

X-rays doneX-rays done

UltrasoundUltrasound Uses high frequency sound waves and the Uses high frequency sound waves and the

timing of the echo to determine the shape timing of the echo to determine the shape of things inside our bodiesof things inside our bodies

UltrasoundUltrasound Ultrasound of breast tumourUltrasound of breast tumour

CT scanningCT scanning(Computer Axial Tomography)(Computer Axial Tomography)

Multiple xrays from different angles are Multiple xrays from different angles are taken and assembled to get a more `full taken and assembled to get a more `full picture` of what is going onpicture` of what is going on

CAT scanningCAT scanning (skip to 23:10)(skip to 23:10)

MRIMRI(Magnetic Resonance Imaging)(Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Uses radio waves and a magnetic field Uses radio waves and a magnetic field Creates detailed imagesCreates detailed images Can create 3D modelsCan create 3D models

MRIMRI

EndoscopyEndoscopy

Fibre optic cableFibre optic cable Used to look for abnormal growthsUsed to look for abnormal growths Sample of growth then examined under Sample of growth then examined under

the microscope to see if it is malignantthe microscope to see if it is malignant Should start having at least at the age of Should start having at least at the age of

50 – earlier if you have family history of 50 – earlier if you have family history of colon cancercolon cancer

Colon cancerColon cancer Colonoscopy liveColonoscopy live colonoscopy polyp removalcolonoscopy polyp removal colonscopy of cancerous tumourcolonscopy of cancerous tumour

Examining CellsExamining Cells

After sample of tumour or cells is removed After sample of tumour or cells is removed (called a BIOPSY), it is examined sample (called a BIOPSY), it is examined sample under microscopeunder microscope

Cancer cells are often irregular in shapeCancer cells are often irregular in shape Important to know where cancer Important to know where cancer

originated, how much it has spread, and originated, how much it has spread, and how quickly it is growing (often given a how quickly it is growing (often given a

`stage`- i.e. stage 1,2,3,4`stage`- i.e. stage 1,2,3,4

Terry FoxTerry Fox

18 years old18 years old Bone cancerBone cancer Leg was amputatedLeg was amputated Ran more than 5000 km!!!Ran more than 5000 km!!! From St.John`s Newfoundland to Thunder Bay, From St.John`s Newfoundland to Thunder Bay,

Ontario!!Ontario!! Cancer had spread to his lungs and he died at Cancer had spread to his lungs and he died at

2222 In his name, In his name, HUNDRED OF MILLIONSHUNDRED OF MILLIONS have have

been raised for cancer research!!been raised for cancer research!!