So, what is...

Cancer?
Cancer is:
The uncontrollable growth of
abnormal cells that can invade nearby
tissues in the body; can spread to
other parts of the body through the
blood and lymph system.

But why:

Cancer occurs when our normal

process of cell division breaks down
allowing the abnormal cells to
continue dividing forming new cells
when they are not needed. The extra
cells continue to divide and can form
growths called tumors, most of
which are solid tumors, meaning
they are masses of tissue.
Cancerous tumors are malignant,
meaning they can spread to nearby
tissues or even throughout the body.
If cancer cells have spread to other
parts of the body different then
where they started, it is called
metastasis. Cancerous tumors could
also be benign, meaning they do not
spread to nearby tissues.
Who is at risk:
Diet & Exercise:
Eating unhealthily can lead to obesity
which increases the risk of breast
cancer, colorectal cancer,
endometrial cancer, throat cancer,
kidney and pancreas cancers. Also,
not engaging in proper amounts of
activity can led to a sedentary
lifestyle leading to obesity which will
then increase the risk of cancer.

Impact on me:
cancer patients and family members can
suffer from depression
- the diagnosis and prognosis, physical
appearance (ie hair loss), physical
symptoms (ie pain, nausea), changes in
lifestyle, and stress all lead to depression
- 1 in 4 people with cancer are diagnosed
with clinical depression
- Infertility can also be a result of certain
types of cancer treatments, especially
those aimed to treat areas of the
reproductive organs.
- Although cancer related stress can
create challenges in relationships,
oftentimes individuals with cancer have
strong support groups
Higher socioeconomic status:
- tend to have college degree, a higher
income, and a full-time job with health
care benefits.
- more likely to go to the doctors
which can catch cancer early
- less likely to engage in behaviors
known to lead to cancer
Lower socioeconomic status:
- more likely to not have a college
degree, not earn enough money for
comfortable living, and have no job or
a low paying job with no health care
benefits.
- less likely to go to the doctors which
can allow cancer to manifest for a
longer period of time, leading a worse
prognosis
- more likely to engage in behaviors
known to lead to cancer
Blue-collar factory jobs puts lower
SES workers at higher risk for cancer
through exposure

Smoking leads to approximately

480,000 deaths each year and
about 36% of those deaths are
due to smoking related cancer.
Risk Factors:
Preventable risk factors include:

Unpreventable risk factors include:

Age
Chronic Inflammation
Sunlight
Hormones

Common Symptoms:
Unexplained weight loss (common
with: pancreas, stomach,
esophagus, lung)
Fever (common with: blood cancers
such as leukemia and lymphoma)
Fatigue that doesn’t get better with
rest
Pain in a localized area that does
not get better/go away
Skin changes (common with: skin
cancers)
Change in bladder habits/bowel
function
Sores/cuts that don’t heal
Unusual bleeding and/or discharge
Lump in the breast or other parts of
the body
Trouble swallowing
A cough that doesn’t go away
and/or constant hoarseness
Diagnosis:
Cells and/or tissues are looked
at under a microscope by a
professional
There are also biopsies: When
you take out a piece of a
tumor/lump for sampling
The sample of tissue is called
“biopsy specimen”
The sampling is known as
pathology

Treatment:
These figures do not include initial
doctor's visits or the screenings which
found the cancer which can range from
around $40 to several thousand dollars)

Surgery ($15,000-$55,000 based on

type of surgery)
Radiation therapy($8,600 per time)
Chemotherapy ($7,000 per treatment)
Immunotherapy
Targeted therapy
Hormone therapy
Stem cell transplant ($10,000 per)
Precision medicine
CBD Oil (Cannabis) ($40-$60 per mL)
Ethics:
Patient’s right to refuse treatment
Cancer related clinical trials
Cancer research in children
Treating uninsured individuals with
cancer
Potential risks/benefits of ongoing
treatments

Let's talk :

The United States spent...

$88.7 Billion
on cancer treatment and
research in 2011.
Policies:
Follow this link to learn all about
the legislation being passed in
Congress to help those affected
by cancer:
https://www.cancer.gov/about-
nci/legislative/current-
congress/cancer-research#ui-id-2

How you can take the

INITIATIVE:
Follow this link to learn more about St.
Baldrick's. A fun and rewarding way to
raise money for childhood cancer.
https://www.stbaldricks.org/about-
childhood-cancer
St. Baldrick's gets people engaged by
participating in head-shaving
fundraising! They have participants
fundraise by setting a goal of how
much money it will take to shave their
hair off! All money raised goes directly
to childhood cancer research!

Stay Healthy!