Cancer Care

Contents Introduction Defining cancer The nature of cancer The biology of cancer Cancer cells Differentiation Section summary Tumours Benign tumours Malignant tumours How malignant tumours grow and spread Local growth and damage to nearby tissues Age Sex Overall health status Immune system function Case study 1 Gerald Fergus Spread to the lymphatic system and the lymph nodes Spread to other parts of the body Section summary Aetiology of Cancer Cancer causing substances (carcinogens) Smoking Alcohol Occupational exposure Diet Sun Hormones Staging and grading of cancer Staging Staging and investigations Radiology Computerised Tomography Scan (CT Scan) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Ultrasound Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Pathology Endoscopy and surgery Grading and investigations Section summary Cancer treatment Surgery Chemotherapy Classes of chemotherapeutic drugs Side effects Radiotherapy Biological therapies Bone marrow and stem cell transplants Hormonesand hormone antagonists Section summary Cancer fast facts Breast cancer Bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) Lung cancer Prostate cancer Caring for people with cancer Palliative care and end of life care Section summary Terminology Resources