Lecture Notes: Understanding Cancer

Introduction

• Subscription Note: Mention of Aran Biology and Medicine videos, and Forman group on Facebook for updates.
• Definition of Cancer:
  • Uncontrolled proliferation of cells.
  • Can arise from virtually any cell type: bone, skin, gut, etc.
  • Origin of the word "cancer": From the Greek "carinoma" (crab), also linked to astrological symbol.

Example of Cancer: Colon Cancer

• Anatomy:
  • Large intestines/colon depicted with diagrams.
• Tumor Definition:
  • Tumor: General term for new growth; used interchangeably with neoplasia.
  • Cancerous tumors often rapid, but some like lung tumors can grow slowly.

Types of Tumors

• Benign Tumors:
  • Slow-growing, localized, and well-defined capsule.
  • Not cancerous and not very dangerous, but can cause pain if it presses against nerves.
• Malignant Tumors:
  • Cancerous, rapid growth, uncapsulated.
  • Can invade tissues and stimulate blood vessel growth for nutrients.
  • Comprised of mutated cells, can spread (metastasize) to other body parts.
  • Characteristics:
    • Uncontained growth, penetrates tissue layers.
    • Capable of breaking off and traveling to other organs, very dangerous.

Commonly Diagnosed Cancers

• In Females:
  • Breast, lung, colorectum (colon/rectal area) cancers.
• In Males:
  • Prostate, lung, colorectum cancers.
• Lung Cancers:
  • High prevalence due to smoking and metastasis tendency.

Cancer Survival and Future Outlook

• Current Statistics:
  • 5-year survival rate post-diagnosis is approximately 60%.
• Future Treatments:
  • Optimism for improved treatments and interventions for better survival and comfort.

Pathophysiology and Progression of Cancer

• Further exploration of malignant tumors and their behavior in the body.