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Understanding Cancer

by

National Cancer Institute

Title Page

1. What is Cancer?

2. Different Kinds of Cancer

3. Naming Cancers

4. Loss of Normal Growth Control

5. Example of Normal Growth

6. The Beginning of Cancerous Growth

7. Tumors (Neoplasms)

8. Invasion and Metastasis

9. Malignant versus Benign Tumors

10. Why Cancer is Potentially Dangerous

11. Cancer Detection and Diagnosis

12. Early Cancer May Not Have Any Symptoms

13. Cervical Cancer Screening

14. Breast Cancer Screening

15. Prostate and Ovarian Cancer Screening

16. Colon Cancer Screening

17. Biopsy

18. Microscopic Appearance of Cancer Cells

19. Hyperplasia

20. Dysplasia

21. Carcinoma in Situ

22. Tumor Grading

23. Tumor Staging

24. What Causes Cancer?

25. Population-Based Studies

26. Heredity? Behaviors? Other Factors?

27. Tobacco Use and Cancer

28. Low-Strength Radiation

29. High-Strength Radiation

30. Lag Time

31. Viruses

32. Examples of Human Cancer Viruses

33. AIDS and Kaposi's Sarcoma

34. Bacteria and Stomach Cancer

35. Heredity and Cancer

36. Heredity Can Affect Many Types of Cancer

37. Genetic Testing

38. Cancer Risk and Aging

39. Genes and Cancer

40. DNA Structure

41. DNA Mutation

42. Oncogenes

43. Proto-Oncogenes and Normal Cell Growth

44. Oncogenes are Mutant Forms of Proto-Oncogenes

45. Tumor Suppressor Genes

46. Tumor Suppressor Genes Act Like a Brake Pedal

47. p53 Tumor Suppressor Protein Triggers Cell Suicide

48. DNA Repair Genes

49. Cancer Tends to Involve Multiple Mutations

50. Mutations and Cancer

51. Cancer Tends to Corrupt Surrounding Environment

52. Cancer Prevention

53. Avoid Tobacco

54. Protect Yourself From Excessive Sunlight

55. Limit Alcohol and Tobacco

56. Diet: Limit Fats and Calories

57. Diet: Consume Fruits and Vegetables

58.  Avoid Cancer Viruses

59. Avoid Carcinogens at Work

60. Industrial Pollution

61. Is There a Cancer "Epidemic"?