Module 3: Cancer
How does cancer start? Damaged cells multiply.
Risk Factors for Cancer
- Smoking or tobacco
- Poor nutrition
- Low physical activity
- Overweight or obesity
- Alcohol abuse
- Family history
Cells are the building blocks of your body. Normally cells grow, divide and die. Cancer begins when a normal cell mutates, or changes, and is not able to repair itself. The damaged cell then keeps multiplying and creates a tumor.
What is a malignant tumor?
A tumor can be benign or malignant. A benign tumor is not cancerous. A malignant tumor is cancerous. Malignant tumors are more harmful. When they grow they can harm tissues and organs. Parts of malignant tumors can also break off and spread to other parts of the body. This is how cancer spreads.
How can someone have breast cancer in a lung?
The type of cancer someone has depends on where the cancer starts. For example, if cancer starts in the breast and moves to a lung, it is still breast cancer. Metastasis is when cancer spreads to another place in the body. Doctors can usually tell what type of cancer someone has by doing a biopsy—using a needle to take a small sample of a tumor.
What do you think?
According to the CDC, how many deaths in the U.S. are caused by cancer?
1 in 10
1 in 5
1 in 4
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According to the American Cancer Society, how many cancer deaths each year are due to lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition, low physical inactivity or obesity?
15%
20%
30%
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Which cancer causes the most deaths in the U.S.?
Lung Cancer
Breast cancer
Colorectal cancer
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Which cancer kills the most women?
Lung cancer
Breast cancer
Colon cancer
Cervical cancer
Source: The Burden of Chronic Diseases and Their Risk Factors: National and State Perspectives 2004 (CDC)
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