CANCER

- deadly disease
- causes because of increasing longevity, changing lifestyle, increasing pollution and many other
factors
- study of Cancer is called Oncology
- most common cancers in world are of lung, prostate, colon (large gut), and rectum.
- India - most common cancer - cervix, breast, esophagus in women
- for men - the head and neck region and esophagus

What is cancer?
- purposeless growth of cells, which is unresponsive to the normal growth control mechanism of the
body and then these become so large that they cause adverse impact on the body.
- cancer cells use up body nutrients and deprive the normal cells of food and energy.
- they cause pain through their fast growth
- they may abstruct blood vessels, intestine, airway, food pipe
- they secrete hormone like substances which cause fever, weakness and other metabolic imbalance
- it may spread to distant organs and cause organ failure

NEOPLASIA - also purposeless growth of cells two types of Neoplasia 1. benign 2. malignant

1. Benign - harmless growth and is normally known as tumor/ slow growing, normally well localized in
the capsule and almost never spread to distant organs
2. Malignant - harmful called cancer/ fast growing - cannot have any capsule to contain them,
infiltrates into local tissue and spreads to distant organs
- spread of cancer to distant organs is called metastasis
- common organs affected by metastasis are lymph nodes, liver, lung, bones and brain.

TYPES OF CANCER
- Adenocarcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, transitional cell carcinoma - affects the common
organs of the body.
- Sarcoma - Cancers of connective tissues like muscles, bone, fat, etc
- lymphomas and leukemia - affects the nodes and blood cells

CAUSES OF CANCER [Exact cause is not known]

-change (Mutations) in genes may caused by various factors such as genetics, hereditary, geographical
distribution, chemicals like aniline, benzene, etc… chronic friction like old injury or burn scar,
exposure to ionizing, Use of pan, pan masala and tobacco.

EARLY STAGE SIGNS OF CANCER

- change in bowel or bladder habits
- a sore that does not heal
- unusual bleeding or discharge
- thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
- indigestion or difficulties in swallowing
- obvious change in an existing wart or mole
- Nagging cough or hoarseness of voice

WOMEN
Cancer of cervix - PAP Smear Test every 2-5 years from age of 35
Cancer Breast - mammography every 5 years from age 35 and self breast examination everyday
Breast examination by doctor every 2-5 years

MEN
Prostate - PSA(Prostate specific antigen) every 5 years from 45
Colon and rectum - stool for occult blood and per rectal examination every 2-5 years from age of 45

PREVENTION OF CANCER
Avoid tobocco, smoking and alcohol consumption
Eat balanced Diet full of green vegetables and fresh fruits
Avoid obesity

VARIOUS MODALITY OF TREATMENT OF CANCER ARE

- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Harmonal therapy
- miscellaneous therapies like laser, radioactive ablation gamma knife, etc

FACTS
- Cancer can occur at any age
- cancer can be cured, if detected early
- FNAC, Biopsy or surgery does not increase the spread of cancer
- cancer is treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with most patients getting two or three
of these modalities
- cancer is not contagious and does not spread by contact or by staying together
- cancer patients can lead normal active life after and even during treatment
- cancer treatments is prolonged, generally spreading over 6-8 months or more
- cancer patients, besides treatment need a lot of support from all, especially families

CHEMOTHERAPY
- Use of drugs in cancer treatment
- besides surgery and radiotherapy, chemotherapy is one of the three main modalities of treatment in
cancer

CHEMOTHERAPY DRUGS
- common ones are adriamycin, taxol, cyclophosphamide cisplatinum, methotrexate, 5 flurouracil,
blemycin, etoposide

INDICATIONS OF CHEMOTHERAPY
-Primary Chemotherapy: main mode of treatment as in leukemia, lymphoma and cases which are
inoperable or patient is unwilling for surgery.
- Preoperative chemotherapy: here chemotherapy is used before surgery to make the cancer operable or
to decrease the extent of surgery and to preserve the affected organ
- Postoperative: here chemotherapy is used after surgery to prevent cancer local and distant recurrence
- salvage: used for recurrance
- Palliative: chemotherapy may also be used to decrease pain and other symptoms in advanced a cancer
- chemoprevention: chemotherapy is also used in certain cases to prevent cancer in high risk patients or
to prevent second cancer in cancer patients

DURATION OF CHEMOTHERAPY
- Usually given in cycles repeated every 3 weeks
- normally a patient receives six cycles

ACTIONS OF CHEMOTHERAPY
- prevents cell division and leads to cell death
- max effects is on the cancer cells, however normal cells are affected too
- most commonly affected normal cells are of the bone marrow, blood and the intestine

PREPARATION FOR CHEMOTHERAPY

- before, blood tests to be done, hemoglobin, blood count, platelet, electrolyte, liver and kidney
function tests
- If blood counts are high or low, then chemotherapy should be postponed.

SIDEEFFECTS
- vomiting and nausea
- loose motions
- Fever
- Low blood counts
- loss of hair
- Bone marrow supression
- stopping of period
- Blackening of skin and nails

PRECAUIONS DURING CHEMOTHERAPY

- to drink adequate fluids
- to avoid heavy meals
- to avoid eating raw vegetables or fruits
- to avoid infections
- to avoid going in crowded areas soon after chemotherapy

- Tumor suppression gene > tumor suppression protein > STOP cell division
- Proto Oncogene > Proto Oncoprotein > Promote cell Division
--lack of above causes mutations which develops tumor

TYPES
SOLID TUMORS AND BLOOD CANCERS

SOLID TUMORS: Carcinomas - occurs in major organs - breast/ lung/ colon/ Kidney
Sarcomas - connective tissues - muscles/ Bones
BLOOD TUMOR: Leukemia - Begins at Bone marrow - affects immune cells
Lymphomas - Begins at limph nodes - affects immune cells

RISK FACTORS
- Age
- Cigarettes
- Obesity
- Family History [Mutations are passed down, not cancer]
- Alcohol
- UV Light

CSR [CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY]

- Enhancing health by bridging healthcare dis parties and supporting essentials health programs
- Cancer Support - awareness about cancer prevention and early detection, provide vital financial aid
for treatment, support pioneering research, significantly enhance the quality of life for cancer patients.
- 1,461,427 new cancer cases in 2022 - record incidence rate of 100.4 per 100,000 individuals
- one in nine receive cancer diagnosis in indian males - lung cancer // females -breast cancer
- according to WHO, 30 to 60% cancers are preventable highlighting prevention as most cost-effective
strategy for cancer control.
- WHO Global Action plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable Diseases (2013-2020)
targets critical risk factors
- Underscoring global public health
- Comprehending key risk factors to reduce cancer incidences

ROLES:
- Screening and early detection
- Financial Aid for Diagnosis and Treatment
- Survivor-ship and Rehabilitation
- Awareness and education workshop
- Collaboration and implementation

1. Screening and early Detection

-Across various state, to enhance treatment outcomes
-conduct population based screening surveys
-Integrate mobile health (m Health) technology for collecting health data and intra - oral images,
particularly for detection oral cancers
 Partner with corporates
 Deploy mobilehealth clinics
 Leverage technology

2. Financing Aid for diagnosis and treatment

- Bridge Funds: establish funds to partially cover treatment costs for selected beneficiaries
- Comprehensive support: Provide financial support that encompasses initial diagnosis, ongoing
treatment, necessary medications, ensuring sustained care for underprivileged patients.
 Create a patient support fund
 Crowdfunding and grants
 Partnerships with Hospitals

3. Survivor-ship and Rehabilitation

- counselling services: Psychological support to patients and their family
- Educational opportunities and vocational Training: Empower survivors through educational and
vocational courses, facilitating their reintegration into society post-treatment
- cancer survivor kits - kits with wigs, prosthetics and essential items to enhance the morale and
confidence of survivors, supporting their journey towards recovery and wellness.
 Psycho-social programs
 Vocational training and employment assistance
 Survivor care package

4. Awareness and Education workshop

- Awareness Sessions: educate the public on cancer risks preventive measures
- Workshops and training programs: enhancing health care providers skills in cancer detection and care
through specialized workshops and training initiatives
 Community workshops and awareness drives
 Social media and digital outreach
 Training healthcare workers

5. Collaboration and implementation

- Healthcare providers and specialists
- Local communities and organizations
- Government and non governmental organizations
 Corporate engagement programs
 Advocacy and police support
 NGO and institutional partnerships