Intro to Cancer

Intro to Cancer

Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2018, there were 18.1 million new cases and 9.5 million cancer-related deaths worldwide.

Open Ended

What do you know about cancer?

Poll

Do you know someone who has died from cancer?

• yes

• no

Poll

Have you lost a family member to cancer?

• yes

• no

In 2020, an estimated 1,806,590 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 606,520 people will die from the disease.

Prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers  account for an estimated 43% of all cancers diagnosed in men in 2020. For women, the three most common cancers are breast, lung, and colorectal, and they will account for an estimated 50% of all new cancer diagnoses in women in 2020.

The cancer mortality rate is higher among men than women (189.5 per 100,000 men and 135.7 per 100,000 women). When comparing groups based on race/ethnicity and sex, cancer mortality is highest in African American men (227.3 per 100,000) and lowest in Asian/Pacific Islander women (85.6 per 100,000).

Approximately 39.5% of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes (based on 2015–2017 data).

In 2020, an estimated 16,850 children and adolescents ages 0 to 19 will be diagnosed with cancer and 1,730 will die of the disease.

Estimated national expenditures for cancer care in the United States in 2018 were $150.8 billion. In future years, costs are likely to increase as the population ages and more people have cancer. Costs are also likely to increase as new, and often more expensive, treatments are adopted as standards of care.

Open Ended

What statistics did you find most interesting or most surprising?

Cancer: Truth or Myth Survey

Next, you will complete a survey of 15 statements about cancer. For the purposes of this survey, a cancer “Truth” is defined as a statement that you believe is supported by scientific evidence. A cancer “Myth” is defined as a statement that you believe is an opinion or an idea that is not supported by scientific evidence.

Vote using the following scale for each ”Statement about Cancer”

1 = I’m sure this is true.

2 = I think this might be true.

3 = I think this might be a myth.

4 = I’m sure this is a myth.

Poll

If your parents had cancer, you may be at a higher risk of developing cancer.

• I’m sure this is true

• I think this might be true.

• I think this might be a myth

• I’m sure this is a myth.

Only about 5 to 10 percent of cancers are caused by harmful mutations that are inherited from a person’s parents.

Poll

All cancers are caused by same genetic mutations.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Poll

Everyone who participates in a clinical trial for a new drug or treatment benefits.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

As with any treatment option, a clinical trial has possible benefits, as well as drawbacks.

Poll

Young peoples’ lifestyles affect their chances of getting cancer later in life.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Consider the following risk factors...

Age

Alcohol

Cancer-Causing Substances

Chronic Inflammation

Diet

Hormones

Immunosuppression

Infectious Agents

Obesity

Radiation

Sunlight

Tobacco

Poll

Cancer is caused by changes in genetic material.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

90 to 95 percent of cancers are caused by mutations that happen during a person’s lifetime as a natural result of aging and exposure to environmental factors, such as tobacco smoke and radiation. These cancers are called “non-hereditary” or “spontaneous” cancers. 

Poll

Everyone with the same type of cancer gets the same kind of treatment

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Poll

The only treatments for cancer are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Breakthroughs in molecularly targeted therapies and immunotherapy have revolutionized the cancer treatment landscape for patients.

Poll

Some types of cancer are contagious.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Generally, no. But...

• Transplant-related cancer

• Some pathogens may cause cancer. Ex. HPV, Helicobacter pylori (bacterium)

Poll

Cancer patients involved in clinical trials always receive the investigational drug or treatment.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Poll

Cancer is caused by changes in genetic material.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Cancer is a genetic disease—that is, cancer is caused by certain changes to genes that control the way our cells function, especially how they grow and divide.

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics

Poll

Tumors must have a blood supply to survive.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Poll

Age is a risk factor for cancer.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Poll

New cancer fighting drugs move through clinical trials quickly.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Poll

Many mutations are required for someone to develop cancer.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Poll

Cancer is the leading cause of death in the United States.

• I'm sure this is true

• I think this might be true

• I think this might be a myth

• I'm sure this is a myth

Leading Causes of Death, US

Heart disease: 655,381

Cancer: 599,274

Accidents (unintentional injuries): 167,127 Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 159,486 Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 147,810

Source: Mortality in the United States, 2018

CDC

Open Ended

What questions do you have about cancer that you would like to study in this unit?

More Information:

https://www.cancer.gov/