Discuss the following:

 discuss the pathophysiology of cancer.

 develop a concept mapping and life threatening pathway for cancer.
 differentiate between benign and malignant tumors.

1. Discuss the pathophysiology of cancer

Cancer is a disease characterized by DNA damage that causes abnormal cell

growth and development. The pathophysiology of cancer involves 3 processes;

Initiation, Promotion and Progression. In the initiation stage, damage or mutation

to the DNA causes excessive cell division, because we have excessive oncogene

function but decreased suppressor gene function. In the next stage, Promotion,

mutated cells are exposed to promoters that enhance their growth. Lastly,

Progression, here the tumor cells acquire additional mutations, and their growth

rate increases. It allows them to metastasize, it spreads throughout the body and

makes them resistant to therapy.

There are many types of cancer, but biologically, the origin of cancer is similar,

which is due to defect in gene expression. There are some factors which are

responsible for change of normal cell into cancer cell.

 2. Develop a concept mapping and life-threatening pathway for cancer.

Abnormal growth of cells

Cancer

Undergoes If left
treatment untreated

Symptoms: Organ system

Surgery. failure
Chemotherapy. Nausea
Radiation
Therapy. SOB
Targeted
Therapy. Constipation
Immunotherap Death
y. weakness
Stem Cell or
Bone Marrow
Transplant. (varies to the
Hormone different
types of
cancer)

Patient recovers

3. Differentiate between benign and malignant tumors

A tumor is an abnormal growth of cells. It is a mass or lump of tissue that may
resemble swelling. Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors are non-
cancerous and Malignant Tumors are always cancerous. The difference between
the two (2) includes, the rate of growth, mode of growth, presence of capsule,
hemorrhage and necrosis, metastasis, cell differentiation (anaplasia),
nomenclature.

BENIGN MALIGNANT
Slow rate of growth Rapid rate of growth
Non-invasive (MOG) Invasive (MOG)
Present capsule Absence of capsule
Absence of hemorrhage and necrosis Present hemorrhage and necrosis
Absence of metastasis Present metastasis
Well anaplasia Variable anaplasia
suffix -oma Suffix- -scrcoma, -carcinoma