Oncology: Basic Concepts,Students Study Guide,What is ONCOLOGY?,An area/branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of cancer. Onco = onkos (Greek) = tumor -logy = study of ONCOLOGIST = specialist in Oncology,What is CANCER?,It refers to a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells (American Cancer Society ACS).,1.They stop growing when they come in contact with each other. 2. They stay in the same organ.,Normal cell behavior,CANCER CELLS,Cancer cells keeps on dividing and growing. They produce masses of tissue known as tumors or neoplasms. (Uncontrolled growth) Finally, they also spread to other organs (metastasis),NEOPLASIA: The process of abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells (NEOPLASTIC = adj),EXAMPLES OF CANCER,breast cancer,prostate cancer,lung cancer,esophageal cancer,gastric cancer,colorectal cancer,WHAT CAUSES CANCER?,CARCINOGEN (CARCINOGENIC - Adj) a substance or agent that causes cancer HOW?,By causing PERMANENT and IRREPARABLE (cannot be repaired) damage in the genetic material. GENETIC MUTATION (mutation = change),a,ONCOGENES genes that can cause cancer SUPPRESSOR GENES - genes that can stop cancer,CANCER CELLS,1. May be repaired 2. Cell dies 3. Cell is killed If not,PERMANENT,continue to grow invade other tissues or organs,then,TYPES OF TUMORS,Benign,Malignant (cancer or malignancy),1,1,2,2,3. have a capsule (encapsulated),3. no capsule (thats why they spread),4. cells are anaplastic (immature) anaplasia has not undergone G & D,4. cells are usually diffentiated (mature) differentiation G & D,Types of Malignant Tumors/ Cancer,NAMING TUMORS,EFFECTS OF TUMORS/CANCER,EFFECTS OF BENIGN TUMOR,Compression Obstruction Deformity They ddo not spread. Effects are usually not fatal.,cystic hygroma,Effects Of Malignant Tumors (1),Physical effects Compression Obstruction Deformity,Effects Of Malignant Tumors (2),poor nutrition (cancer cells steal the nutrients from the body) wasting (cachexia) gets sick easily,Effects Of Malignant Tumors (3),Damage to other organs Different symptoms will appear depending on the organ affected.,hematogenous (blood),lymphatic (lymph nodes),Malignant tumors are usually fatal .,DETECTING TUMORS,Cancers Seven Warning Signals (ACS),C Change in bowel or bladder habits A A sore that does not heal U Unusual bleeding or discharge T Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere I Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing O Obvious change in a wart or mole N Nagging cough or hoarseness,Note: highly unspecific, diagnosis of a benign tumor is more probable,EXAMPLES OF HOW TO DETECT TUMORS BY PHYSICAL EXAMINATION,Breast Exam,Digital Rectal Exam,LABORATORY PROCEDURES,X -ray,computed tomography (CT scan),ultrasound,Imaging studies,magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),VISUALIZATION PROCEDURES,colon cancer,bronchial/lung cancer,scopy endoscopic exam scope instrument used,Biochemical Studies,Some tumors release substances (enzymes) Into body fluids (blood, urine).,Doctors determine the level of these substances to detect tumors/cancer.,prostate specific antigen (prostate cancer),Biopsy and Histopathologic Examination,NOTE: A BIOSY with HISTOPATHOLOGIC STUDIES is the gold standard for diagnosing cancer/tumors. (Gold standard = the best or no. 1) (determines the GRADE of the tumor/cancer),Histopathologic exam,Tissue sampling,GRADING OF TUMORS,GRADE how mature the cells are DIFFERENTATION growth and development of the cells,Differentiated (mature) good prognosis,undifferentiated or anaplastic (immature) bad prognosis,Gleasons criteria is used to grade prostate cancer.,STAGING OF TUMORS,STAGE tells us how far the tumor has grown and spread,TNM Classification T TUMOR growth N involvement of lymph nodes M metastasis Subscripts: IS in situ (in its place) 1 -4 = growth or involvement,T1NoMo,T4N2M1,TREATMENT FOR CANCER,Radiotherapy,Chemotherapy,Surgery,Multimodality (Multi many) (modes methods / ways),Hospice Care - end of life care for the terminally ill,THANK YOU!,