Understanding Cancer

PowerPoint Assignment
Colton Schons
 Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a condition that affects the lymph nodes (small organs spread throughout the immune system that
contain white blood cells and serve as filters.) The filters are eventually replaced by cancerous cells.
General (NHL) Lymphoma is distinct from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which is a lymphoma that contains abnormal
cell mutations.
Symptoms:
• Swelling of lymph nodes
• Unexplained weight loss
• Near-constant fevers
• Respiratory issues
• Fatigue
• Sweating during sleep
• Pain in the abdomen
Prevention:
• Lymphoma is not caused by any known risk factors. However, people
with immune disorders such as HIV are more susceptible to
developing the disease.
• Some studies have concluded that obesity could be a factor in
lymphoma; there is no scientific consensus. Lymphoma can also be
caused by treatments for other cancers.
• (Non-Hodgkin’s) lymphoma is either genetic or unexplained. More
research is needed. It is not known if you can decrease your risk for
the disease, but you can certainly increase the risk through HIV
infection and possibly obesity.
Treatments
• The goal of lymphoma treatment is to remove cancer cells and
proteins from the blood, and thus from the lymph nodes. This is done
in a variety of ways.
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation Therapy
• Targeted Therapy (Targets cancer cells)
• Biological Therapy (Designed to help the body fight against the
disease)
Interesting Information:
• Overall 5-year survival rate is over 60%
• NHL is one of the most common cancers in US
• In lymphoma, lymphocytes (white blood cells) don’t mature or die
but instead form tumors by collecting
• Lymphoma most commonly starts in the upper body (lymph nodes by
neck or shoulders).
 Resources:
https://medlineplus.gov/lymphoma.html
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/causes-risks-prevention/prevention.html
https://www.drugs.com/mcf/hodgkin-s-vs-non-hodgkin-s-lymphoma-what-s-the-difference
https://www.seattlecca.org/diseases/non-hodgkins-lymphoma/non-hodgkins-lymphoma-facts
 Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer affects the prostate, found in the male reproductive
system. The purpose of the prostate is to produce fluid that becomes a
part of semen. In the U.S., about 20% of men are affected at some point.
Symptoms:
• Blood in semen
• Weak flows of urine
• Weak bladder (sudden urges to pee)
• Pain or burning during urination
• Back pain
• Anemia
Prevention:
• Regular exams to check for unusual lumps in the prostate area
• Race is considered a risk factor (African American men are
disproportionately affected)
• Smoking, obesity and lack of exercise contribute to prostate cancer
• Folates in diet
• Finasteride: drug that prevents testosterone from converting to
dihydrotestosterone
Treatments:
• Treatment depends on the type of cells and how far they are spread,
as well as how rapidly they are spreading.
• Radiation therapy
• Prostatectomy
• Hormone therapy- lowers testosterone levels
Interesting Facts
• In the U.S., prostate cancer mainly affects men with African and
European ancestry.
• Prostate cancer can cause back problems due to its proximity to the
spinal structures.
• Psychological interventions, like counseling, are used to support men
with prostate cancer because treatment often takes away
testosterone, which creates feelings of emasculation and stigma.
 Resources
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/prostate_cancer_advanced_or_metastatic-
health/page6_em.htm
https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/patient/prostate-prevention-
pdq#section/_12
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/index.htm
 Ovarian
Cancer
Ovarian cancer affects the female reproductive system.
Ovaries, which store ova (eggs) needed for reproduction,
can develop deadly tumors. The ovaries usually must be removed along
with other organs the cancer has spread to.
Symptoms:
• Bloating or swelling of the abdomen
• Feeling full quickly when eating
• Unexpected weight loss
• Discomfort in the reproductive organs
• Urinary issues (frequent need to pee, etc.)
Prevention:
• Oral contraceptives
• Hysterectomy (only used as cancer treatment, not as prevention)
• Regular examinations (pap smear)
• Checking for genetic mutations and family history
Treatments:
• Surgical Removal (Hysterectomy):
In this form of treatment the ovaries are removed, along with any other
location the cancer may have spread to such as the uterus or the caul.
This is a common procedure, but many doctors advise that women past
menopause also remove the uterus.
• Chemotherapy:
This treatment uses chemicals to shrink or kill cancer, but is taxing on
the patient physically and emotionally.
Interesting Facts:
• 10th most common cancer
• Causes more deaths than any female reproductive cancer
• Women with European and Hispanic/Latino ancestry in the U.S. are
more likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer than women with
Asian, Indigenous North American, African, or Pacific Islander
ancestry.
 Resources
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/treating.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-
cancer/basics/symptoms/CON-20028096
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ovarian/index.htm