Causes of Cancer

80% are considered sporadic- meaning

the cause is unknown. There are
several risk factors that increase the
chance of cancer:

z Age- risk increases >50.

z Diet- high fat, high cholesterol diets
increase risk.
 Causes of Cancer
z Obesity- no clear link but research
indicates it is a factor
z Cigarettes- increases lung cancer, other
tobacco products such as shesha, pipes
and chewing tobacco increase cancers
of the mouth.
z Long term exposure to chemicals-
asbestos, radon and benzene.
 Causes of Cancer
z Exposure to high levels of radiation
z Harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun.
z Some viruses- Hepatitis B, C, HPV,
Epsteinn-Barr.
z Immune system diseases
 Causes of Cancer
z Heredity
– Screenings are recommended for high risk
families.
– You are considered high risk if :
• Several relatives have had cancer or
• if someone had cancer at a very early age.
 Carcinogenesis
Agents Causing Neoplasm
z Nutritional Oncogenesis
– Scant evidence linking cancer to diet except for
known chemical carcinogens
– Some associations
• Low-fiber diet and colonic cancer
• Fatty diet with breast cancer
• Smoking with oral cancer

– Protective agents – antioxidant effect, awaiting

confirmation
• Beta-carotene
• Vitamins C, E
• Selenium
 Carcinogen
The term carcinogen refers to any form of
substance, radionuclide or radiation which
is an agent in the promotion or direct
involvement in the facilitation of cancer or
genomic instability due to the disruption or
damage of cellular metabolic changes.

Recent reports have implicated acrylamide

in fried or overheated carbohydrate foods
(such as french fries and potato chips) as a
possible carcinogen
 Symptoms of Cancer
Remember one word: CAUTION

z Changes in bowel or bladder habits.

z A sore that will not heal.
z Unusual bleeding or discharge
z Thickening or lump in breast or any part
of the body.
 Symptoms of Cancer
Remember one word: CAUTION

z Indigestion or difficulty swallowing.

z Obvious change in any wart or mole
z Nagging cough or hoarseness.
 Diagnosis of Cancer
z Biopsy- small tissue sample under a
microscope to look for cancerous cells.
z Endoscopy- a flexible plastic tube with a
tiny camera
z Diagnostic Imaging- x rays
 Diagnosis of Cancer
z CT scan- more precise than standard x-
ray.
z MRI- uses a powerful magnetic field,
very accurate but expensive.
z Blood Tests- some tumors release
substances called tumor markers which
can be found in the blood.
 CONSEQUENCES OF CANCER

In a significant number of patients,

malignant processes have a systemic
influence that is associated with:
z Anorexia
z Hypermetabolism
z Progressive wasting of tissue
z Cancer Cachexia Syndrome
z Nutrient losses
 CONSEQUENCES OF CANCER

z Anorexia
– Chronic nausea and early satiety
– Fatigue
– Pain
– Psychological stress
– Obstructions
– Cancer therapy: chemotherapy, radiation,
surgery, and bone marrow transplant.
 Treatment of Cancer
Types of treatment:
z Surgery- 60% of all cancer pts. have
some kind of surgery.
z Radiation Therapy
z Chemotherapy
z Immunotherapy
z Complementary therapies
 Diet and Cancer
Cancer prevention:
z Choose most of the foods you eat from
plant sources. 5 or more servings
z Limit intake of high fat foods, particularly
from animal sources.
z Be physically active.
z Stop cigarette smoking and alcohol
intake.
 Dietary Components
Associated with Cancer
Excesses of certain substances such as:
z Fat- the end products of metabolism
have been found to be carcinogenic.
z Alcohol- has been connected with liver,
colorectal, and breast cancers.
z Pickled and Smoked Foods- related to
cancers of the esophagus and stomach.
 Nutritional Effect of Cancer
Treatment
z Surgery:
– Radical surgery for head and neck area
frequently produces swallowing defects
that range from milk intake impairment to
total disability.
– Nutritional problems also occur with
restriction of stomach and small intestine.
 Nutritional Effect of Cancer
Treatment
z Radiation:
– Radiotherapy to the head and neck area may
produce severe inflammation with ulceration and
oedema of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa.
– Radiation may permanently disable the salivary
glands with resulting xerostomia (dryness of the
mouth) which contributes to difficulties in
mastication and dental carries.
– Anorexia may also develop during radiation and
senses of smell and taste may be inhibited.
 Nutritional Effect of Cancer
Treatment
z Chemotherapy:
– The action of chemotherapeutic agents is not limited to
malignant tissues but affects normal cells as well.
– As result major toxicities seen and dietary intake affected
food intake inhibited by mucositis, cheilosis, glossitis,
stomatitis caused by many drugs.
• Nausea and vomiting occur almost in all cancer agents
• Taste abnormalities, adromyine anovaria and oligophagy
(eating for foods).
• Diarrhoea may be induced e.g. Actinomycin D
• Constipation or dynamic ileus (inhibition of motility)
• Organ damage e.g. liver methotrexate
 NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT OF
CANCER PATIENTS
z Goals of Cure
– Prevent or correct nutritional deficiencies
– Minimise weight loss

z Nutritional cure plan

– Initial assessment to determine the risk of nutrition depletion.
– medical, social and nutritional history
– Anthropometric data
– Nutrient – drug interactions
– Biochemical measurements
– Oral intake or dietary analysis.
 Dietary Components
Associated with Cancer
z Timing of food presentation:
– The timing of food presentation deserves consideration.
– Patients complain of decrease ability to eat as day progress
the morning is best for eating.
– Frequent small feedings with particular emphasis in the
morning would be beneficial.

z Accommodating Taste Changes:

– The patients should be the guide for which food will be eaten
and how they are seasoned.
– Aromas from hot food sometimes aggravate nausea.
– So, cold, non spicy food is recommended
 Protective Dietary
Components
z Certain foods and nutrients have been
shown to protect against certain types
of cancers.
z Vitamin C - has been shown to protect
against cancer of stomach, esophagus,
and oral cavity.
z antioxidants- these are certain nutrients
found in fruits and vegetables.
 Protective Dietary
Components
z Fruits and Veggies- contain vitamins, fiber
and phytochemicals.
z Vitamin E and selenium- both antioxidants
that protect cells against breakdown.
z Calcium- reduces cell turnover rates.
z Water- drinking more than 5 glasses a day
has been associated with a lower risk of
cancer.
 Diet and Cancer
z Fiber- Insoluble fiber is connected to
decreased risk of colon cancer.
Beans, vegetables, whole grains and fruit
are good sources.

z Salt- some evidence links diets containing

large amounts of foods preserved by
pickling and salting to increased cancers of
the stomach, nose and throat.
 Diet and the Cancer Patient

z Nutrition is an important part of

treatment.
z Eating the right kinds of food before,
during and after treatment can help the
patient feel better and stay stronger.
z Treatment can have an adverse effect
on appetite.
 Diet and the Cancer Patient

z People with cancer have unique

nutrition needs.
z Eating enough food is usually not a
problem.
z Nutrition suggestions often emphasize
eating high calorie, high protein foods.
 Diet and the Cancer Patient
Treatments kill cancer cells but they also kill healthy
cells. This can cause side effects such as:
z Loss of appetite
z Sore mouth or throat
z Dry mouth
z Dental and gum problems
z Changes in taste or smell
z Nausea
z Diarrhea
z Constipation
z Fatigue
z Depression.
 Diet and the Cancer Patient

z It is very important to have good

nutrition to minimize the side effects of
cancer, prevent or reverse nutritional
deficiencies, and to maximize the
quality of life.
z The best method of calorie intake is by
mouth. Sometimes this is not possible.
 Diet and the Cancer Patient

Other options of intake are:

z Tube feeding:
– If oral intake becomes inadequate to maintain
nutritional status and the intestinal tract is
functional, tube feeding can provide relief for
anorexia patients.
– This often administerial at home to reduce need
for hospitalising.
– Blendarized formulas may be used in large fields.
 Diet and the Cancer Patient
z TPN
z If the G.I.T. is not functioning
z Via infusion into large vein usually the
subclavian veins.
z Parental support may be partial or
complete TPN.
z Energy and protein are usually given as
glucose and a mixture of amino acids.
z Intravenous fat may be given to prevent
essential fatty acid deficiency and a source
of concentrated energy.
z Electrolytes are added as well as trace
elements and vitamins
 Suggestions for increasing
food intakes of cancer patients
z Provide a patient with a good breakfast at least two hours before
radiation or chemotherapy.
z Minimise nausea by antinausea drugs and result after treatment.
z Individual likes and dislikes should always be kept in mind.
z Use cold protein items, salad plates of fruit and cheese.
z Use cold snacks high in protein e.g. ice cream, salted-nuts.
z Adjust seasoning to improve flavour of foods for patient e.g.
addition of lemon.
z Provide extended food service for exposure in evenings.
z Make available family kitchen in which familiar food may be
prepared.
z Cachetic patients may particularly benefit from high protein
(20%) formulas such as Sustacal. Insure, pediasure also good.
z Mltivitamin supplementation is warranted for these patients.
‫إﺣﺼﺎﺋﻴﺎت اﻟﺴﺮﻃﺎن ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ اﻟﺴﻌﻮدﻳﺔ‬

‫أآﺜﺮ ﻋﺸﺮ أﻧﻮاع ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻧﺘﺸﺎرًا ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﺴﻌﻮدﻳﻴﻦ‪:‬‬

‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﺜﺪي ﻟﺪى اﻟﻨﺴﺎء )‪.(%8.8‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻜﺒﺪ )‪.(%7.5‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﺑﻴﻀﺎض اﻟﺪم )‪.(%7.5‬‬
‫‪ z‬اﻟﻠﻤﻔﻮﻣﺎ اﻟﻐﻴﺮ هﺪﺟﻜﻨﻴﺔ )‪.(%7.3‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻘﻮﻟﻮن واﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﻴﻢ )‪.(%5.5‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻐﺪة اﻟﺪرﻗﻴﺔ )‪.(%5.2‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﺮﺋﺔ )‪.(%4.7‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﺠﻬﺎز اﻟﻌﺼﺒﻲ )‪.(%3.9‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻤﻌﺪة )‪.(%3.8‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻤﺜﺎﻧﺔ )‪.(%3.5‬‬
‫إﺣﺼﺎﺋﻴﺎت اﻟﺴﺮﻃﺎن ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ اﻟﺴﻌﻮدﻳﺔ‬

‫أآﺜﺮ ﻋﺸﺮ أﻧﻮاع ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻧﺘﺸﺎرًا ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﺴﻌﻮدﻳﻴﻦ )ذآﻮر(‪:‬‬

‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻜﺒﺪ )‪.(%10.3‬‬
‫‪ z‬اﻟﻠﻤﻔﻮﻣﺎ ﻏﻴﺮ اﻟﻬﺪﺟﻜﻨﻴﺔ )‪.(%8.5‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﺑﻴﻀﺎض اﻟﺪم )‪.(%8.1‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﺮﺋﺔ )‪.(%7‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻘﻮﻟﻮن واﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﻴﻢ )‪.(%5.8‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻤﻌﺪة )‪.(%5.5‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻤﺜﺎﻧﺔ )‪.(%5.4‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﺒﺮوﺳﺘﺎﺗﺎ )‪.(%5.3‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﺠﻬﺎز اﻟﻌﺼﺒﻲ )‪.(%4.6‬‬
‫‪ z‬اﻟﻠﻤﻔﻮﻣﺎ اﻟﻬﺪﺟﻜﻨﻴﺔ )‪.(%3.9‬‬
‫إﺣﺼﺎﺋﻴﺎت اﻟﺴﺮﻃﺎن ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﻤﻠﻜﺔ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ اﻟﺴﻌﻮدﻳﺔ‬

‫أآﺜﺮ ﻋﺸﺮ أﻧﻮاع ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻧﺘﺸﺎرًا ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﺴﻌﻮدﻳﻴﻦ ) إﻧﺎث(‪:‬‬

‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﺜﺪي )‪.(%10.3‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻐﺪة اﻟﺪرﻗﻴﺔ )‪.(%8.8‬‬
‫‪ z‬اﺑﻴﻀﺎض اﻟﺪم )‪.(%6.7‬‬
‫‪ z‬اﻟﻠﻤﻔﻮﻣﺎ ﻏﻴﺮ اﻟﻬﺪﺟﻜﻨﻴﺔ )‪.(%5.9‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻘﻮﻟﻮن واﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﻴﻢ )‪.(%5.4‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻤﺒﻴﺾ )‪.(%4.3‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻜﺒﺪ )‪.(%4.1‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﺮﺣﻢ )‪.(%3.8‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﺠﻬﺎز اﻟﻌﺼﺒﻲ )‪.(%3.5‬‬
‫‪ z‬ﺳﺮﻃﺎن اﻟﻤﻌﺪة )‪.(%3.5‬‬
 Stop , Look, and Listen
z Be aware of your body, this is the best
prevention against cancer.

z Early detection can be the difference

between life and death!
 Stop , Look, and Listen
z Breast Cancer- look for a lump, any
puckering, dimpling or scaling of the breast
skin.
z Colorectal Cancer- blood in the stool,
prolonged diarrhea, or constipation.
z Endometrial Cancer- (lining of the uterus)
bleeding between periods or after
menopause.
z Prostate- Frequent or painful urination, blood
in the urine, difficulty starting and stopping.
 Stop, Look, and Listen
z Oral Cancer- white or velvety red
patches
z Skin Cancer- Check body from head to
toe, looking for new moles, or those that
have suddenly increased in size,
changed color, or bleed easily.
z Lung cancer- chest pain, recurring
bronchitis, or pneumonia
 5 for the Road
Five things you should remember about
preventing cancer.

z Eats lots of fruits, vegetables, and

whole grains.
z Discover the pleasure of physical
activity.
 5 for the Road

z Stay tobacco free

z Enjoy a low-fat diet
z Protect yourself from the sun between
10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
 Conclusion
z Cancer is a preventable disease in most
cases.
z Lead a healthy lifestyle.
z Be aware of your body.
z Great resource: www.cancer.org
WWW.KFSHRC.edu.sa