Cancer and Carcinogens

CONSUMER CHEMISTRY
Cancer

 Hippocrates (460-370 BC - is considered the "Father of Medicine."

 Hippocrates used the words carcinos and carcinoma to identify non-ulcer-forming and ulcer-
forming tumors.
 In Greek, these phrases refer to a crab because the cancer's finger-like projections brought the shape
of a crab to mind.
 Celsus (28-50 BC)”Roman physician”- turned the Greek term into cancer, the Latin word for crab.
 Oncos(Greek for swelling) - was used to describe tumors by Galen (130-200 AD), another Greek
physician.
 the word of Galen is often used as part of the name of oncologists for cancer specialists.
Cancer

 Cancer is a family of over 100 distinct diseases.

 It can develop almost anywhere in the body
 It starts when this orderly process is messed with by genetic changes also known as genetic
mutation.
 When it expands rapidly and uncontrollably, a cell becomes cancerous and it contributes to the
development of tumors in most cancers.
 An irregular growth of tissue resulting from uncontrolled growth of cells is a tumor.
 Tumors that are benign are not cancerous.
• There is no spread of cancerous cells from benign tumors to other areas of the body.
Cancer

 Benign tumors are not life-threatening.

 Malignant Tumors are cancerous.
• Cancer can spread close to the tumor to other
tissues and organs.
• They can also spread to other sites in the body
through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
This spreading is called metastasis.
Cancer

 In cells, damage to DNA can lead to cancer.

 Cells can also repair DNA damage, however. The cells can die if the damage is severe.
 Unrepaired damage to DNA can lead to gene mutations or changes, and mutations can cause cancer in
some genes.
 You will inherit mutations as well.
 Since cancer has a long latency time, it is difficult to establish which exposure, if any, could have
contributed to a mutation.
 Because of early detection and timely and more successful care, more individuals survive cancer.
 Some breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers may be detected early when screening tests are carried out on
a regular basis, when treatment may function best.
Types of Cancer
Types of Cancer

Carcinoma Examples
 It originates in the skin or the tissue that  prostate cancer
covers the surface of internal organs and  breast cancer
glands. Carcinomas could form solid tumors.
 lung cancer
 colorectal cancer (colon or the rectum)
Types of Cancer

Sarcoma Examples
 It starts in the tissues that support and connect  Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (stomach and
the body. small intestine)
 A sarcoma can develop in fat, muscles, nerves,  Osteosarcoma (bones)
tendons, joints, blood vessels, lymph vessels,
cartilage, or bone.
Types of Cancer

Leukemia
 It is cancer of the body's blood-forming
tissues, including the bone marrow and the
lymphatic system.
Examples
 Lymphocytic leukemia (lymphocytes)
 Myelogenous (my-uh-LOHJ-uh-nus) leukemia
(Myeloid cells give rise to red blood cells,
white blood cells and platelet-producing cells)
Types of Cancer

Lymphoma Examples
 it is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is  Hodgkin’s lymphoma (formerly called
part of the body's germ-fighting network. Hodgkin's disease)
 The lymphatic system includes the lymph  Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
nodes (lymph glands), spleen, thymus gland
and bone marrow.
 Lymphoma can affect all those areas as well
as other organs throughout the body
Types of Cancer

Myeloma Examples
 It is a type of bone marrow cancer. Bone  Solitary Plasmacytoma (plasma cells)
marrow is the spongy tissue at the centre of
some bones that produces the body's blood
cells.  Extramedullary Plasmacytoma (throat,
sinuses, nose and larynx)
 It is also called multiple myeloma as the
cancer often affects several areas of the body,
such as the spine, skull, pelvis and ribs.
Cancer

 It has reported more than 200 forms of cancer.

 Many risk factors can contribute to the chance of having cancer, such as age, genetics, or
lifestyle choices.
 Cancer is not caused by just one risk factor, but by many of them.
 The more risk factors you have, the greater the risk that you will get cancer
The most important risk factors
The most important risk factors

 Age - Although people of all ages can get cancer, older people are at greater risk.
 Genetics - The history of the family will put you at risk for cancer. You could be more at
risk for that form of cancer if you or anyone in the family had a similar type of cancer. For
certain cancers, such as breast cancer and colon cancer, genetics plays a major part.
 Behaviors - Tobacco use and exposure to the sun or other sources of UV radiation are risk
factors for cancer. Other lifestyle choices that might affect the chances of getting cancer
include a poor diet, lack of exercise, or heavy drinking.
The most important risk factors

 Viruses or bacteria - There is a virus or bacteria that trigger certain cancers. The human
papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer, hepatitis B and C viruses, which can cause liver
cancer, and the Epstein-Barr virus, which can cause a form of lymphoma, are several cancer associated
viruses. Likewise, the Helicobacter pylori can cause gastric cancer.

 Exposure to chemicals - As we have discussed, being exposed to chemicals may also be a risk factor.
The most important risk factors

 Radiation of certain wavelengths, called ionizing radiation, has enough energy to damage DNA and
cause cancer.
• Ionizing radiation includes radon, x-rays, gamma rays, and other forms of high-energy radiation.
Lower-energy, non-ionizing forms of radiation, such as visible light and the energy from cell phones,
have not been found to cause cancer in people.
• UV rays can also damage the DNA in our skin cells and lead to skin cancer.
Carcinogens

 In the late 1700s - an early connection between cancer and a chemical was discovered.
 An English doctor noted that due to exposure to soot, which contains chemicals known as
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, a significant number of chimney sweeps had cancer
of the scrotum.
 Many more chemicals have been recognized as proven or suspected causes of cancer
since then.
 The known cancer-causing compounds are called carcinogens.
Carcinogens

 You are going to get cancer if you come into touch with a carcinogen but it depends on
what you have been exposed to, how much you have been exposed, and, among other
aspects, how often you have been exposed with.
 Increasing the risk of developing particular cancer types is related with certain
carcinogenic agents.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Standard classification of carcinogens

Group What does it mean? What does it include?

Group 1 Carcinogenic Sufficient evidence of 128 agents such as
carcinogenicity smoking, exposure to
solar radiation,
alcoholic beverages and
processed meats.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Standard classification of carcinogens

Group What does it mean? What does it include?

Group 2A Probably Limited evidence of Emission from high
carcinogenic carcinogenicity in temperature – frying,
humans and sufficient steroids, exposures
evidence of working in hairdressing
carcinogenicity in and red meat.
experimental animals
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Standard classification of carcinogens

Group What does it mean? What does it include?

Group 2B Possibly Limited evidence of 285 agents such as
carcinogenic carcinogenicity in Coffee, gasolines and
humans and less than gasoline engine
sufficient evidence of exhaust, welding fumes
carcinogenicity in and pickled vegetables
experimental animals
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Standard classification of carcinogens

Group What does it mean? What does it include?

Group 3 Evidence of 505 agents such as Tea,
Carcinogenicity Not carcinogenicity is Static magnetic fields,
classifiable inadequate in humans fluorescent lighting,
and inadequate or polyethene
limited in experimental
animals
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Standard classification of carcinogens

Group What does it mean? What does it include?

Group 4 Evidence suggest no Only one (1) chemical
Probably not carcinogenicity in ever placed in this
carcinogenic experimental humans or group of all substances
animals assessed : Caprolactam
which is used in the
manufacture of
synthetic fibres.
The human body

 has defenses to protect against all kinds of harmful exposures.

 It also goes through a phase when something enters the body, which helps the body to use or get rid of
it more quickly.
 This process is called metabolism.
 Depending on how a chemical is processed, or metabolized, in the body, three types of carcinogens
exist:
• Chemicals that can cause cancer (direct acting carcinogens),
• Chemicals that do not cause cancer unless they are changed when they are metabolized
(procarcinogens), and
• Chemicals that do not cause cancer by themselves but can act with another chemical to cause cancer
(cocarcinogens).
Tools for finding or diagnosing cancer
Tools for finding or diagnosing cancer

 Biopsy is a sample of tissue taken from the body in order to examine it more closely. A doctor
should recommend a biopsy when an initial test suggests an area of tissue in the body isn't normal;

 Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body. It is used to
help diagnose the causes of pain, swelling and infection in the body's internal organs and to
examine a baby in pregnant women and the brain and hips in infants. It's also used to help guide
biopsies, diagnose heart conditions, and assess damage after a heart attack. Ultrasound is safe, non-
invasive, and does not use ionizing radiation;
Tools for finding or diagnosing cancer

 X-ray (radiograph) is a non-invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical
conditions. Imaging with x-rays involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing
radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently
used form of medical imaging;
 Mammography is specialized medical imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray system to see inside the
breasts. A mammography exam, called a mammogram, aids in the early detection and diagnosis of
breast diseases in women;
 Pap smear also called a Pap test, is a procedure to test for cervical cancer in women;
 HPV DNA tests, which look for DNA from cancer-causing HPV types in cervical cells;
Tools for finding or diagnosing cancer

 Fecal occult blood tests (FOBT), which check for blood in the stool; sigmoidoscopy, which
examines the lower colon; and colonoscopy, which examines the entire colon;

 Computed tomography (CT)—the use of x-rays to produce a cross-sectional picture of body

parts; and

 Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—the use of magnetic fields and radio waves to show changes
in soft tissues without the use of x-rays.
Tools for finding or diagnosing cancer

 Ultrasound, X-ray, CT, and MRI are all painless and non-invasive; however, having too many
CTs or x-rays can increase the risk of developing cancer because they expose you to radiation. In
most cases the benefits outweigh the risks. Some people choose to do self-exams, such as feeling
around their breasts or testicles for new lumps or looking over their skin. Talk to your doctor if you
notice anything unusual.