Cancer is not a common cold. It is not contagious. Which means you can't catch it by coming in contact with someone who has it. It is not caused directly by bacteria or viruses. Cancer is caused at the genetic level after a series of changes have impacted the genes, cancer carries on. Your chances of getting cancer are based on your family history and the environment around you. If you have a family member that has had cancer, you are more likely to get it in your lifetime. To stay healthier scientists suggest staying away from UV light and not using tobacco or alcohol. The series of worksheets below will help you learn more about cancer. These worksheets offer a wide selection of how this disease and its abnormal cell growth can directly and indirectly impact the lives of those diagnosed with it and their loved ones. We look at the biology of the disease, the treatments, the progression, and the future of it. We look at how to significantly reduce your risk of having to ever deal with this in your life.
Printable Cancer Worksheets
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What is It? Questions
Cancer is treated by trying to remove or kill the abnormal cells without damaging healthy cells in the area.
Chemotherapy
Using chemicals to try to kill these abnormal cells began in the 1940s with the use of nitrogen mustard. Many new chemotherapy drugs have been developed and tested since.
QUESTIONS: Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is used to cure specific cancers, to control tumor growth, to reduce tumors prior to other treatments like surgery or radiation therapy, to relieve pain or other symptoms, and to destroy those dangerous cells that may still be present in the body after the surgical removal of a tumor.
Food and Cancer Risk
There is some evidence that fruits and vegetables and the nutrients they contain can reduce a person's risk of developing certain types of cancer.
QUESTIONS: Food Risks
On the other hand, obesity, and the foods generally understood to cause obesity sugar-sweetened beverages, fast food, and processed foods-are linked to a higher risk of many cancers.
Risks with Alcohol
Alcohol use is one of the few things that can be definitively linked to an increased risk of cancer. The type of alcohol (beer, wine, or liquor) does not affect risk.
QUESTIONS: Risky Alcohol
One theory is that the risk has to do with two chemicals which can damage the DNA in healthy cells: ethanol, which is contained in alcoholic beverages, and acetaldehyde, which is formed in the body as alcohol is digested.
Stages of Cancer
Cancer occurs when old cells, which normally die, instead grow uncontrollably and form new, abnormal cells. When these unneeded abnormal cells clump together in a mass, it is called a tumor. It can occur anywhere in the body.
QUESTIONS: The Stages
Stage grouping is the result of a combination of primary variables which are collectively known as the TNM system.
Obesity Risks
Obesity is the state of having too much body fat relative to lean body tissue. Obesity is typically measured using the BMI scale, which stands for body mass index.
QUESTIONS: Obesity and Cancer Risk
Over two-thirds of American adults are either overweight or obese.
Processed Foods and Risks
Research published in the BMJ, a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal, in February 2019 indicated that for every 10% increase in the amount of mass-produced, processed foods an individual eats, their risk of developing cancer increases by 12%.
QUESTIONS: Processed Foods
Processed foods are foods that have been created by transforming agricultural products from their natural state into another form; for example, using industrial methods to turn corn into high fructose corn syrup or breakfast cereal.
Sugar and Cancer
Many studies have suggested links between the amount of sugar a person eats and diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and mental health.
QUESTIONS: Sugar
Today, evidence linking sugar consumption and cancer continues to grow, as fructose has been shown to change cell metabolism and increase the activity of cancer-causing proteins; however, the subject remains extremely controversial.
PI3K Gene
PI3K is the most frequently mutated cancer-promoting gene is humans. Since Dr. Cantley’s discovery, it has been identified as playing a role in 80% of cancers.
QUESTIONS: PI3K
The thinking behind PI3K drugs is that blocking the enzyme will disrupt the signals that provide cancer with high levels of glucose, but this is not always the case, and not all clinical trials of PI3K-inhibiting drugs have been successful.
History of Cancer
In the 17th and 18th century, many Europeans believed that cancer was contagious (the infectious disease theory).
QUESTIONS: History
It was discovered that cancer could be caused by chemicals (called carcinogens), radiation, viruses, and inherited genes, and that most forms were the result of damaged DNA.
Common Questions Kids Ask About Cancer
The human body is composed of trillions of cells. Each cell in our body has a unique responsibility from giving our body structure, to absorbing food, and converting food to energy. Just as each cell has a unique job, they also have unique left spans. In fact, the average adult male has over 96 million cells die on him every minute. In order to continue on cells must make copies of themselves to basically replace themselves. Sometimes the process of making copies of cells goes haywire. Some cell will continue to grow and grow and not die when they are expected to. Not only that, these cells that are created do not do the jobs they were expected to do, so they serve no purpose. This can grow out of control and create clumps of cells called tumors. Tumors can often attack other healthy cells around them and in affect cause a lot of harm.
There are strong emotions surrounding how to explain a cancer diagnosis to kids, whether the diagnosis is for a loved one, a friend, or even them, which is quite rare. Whatever the case, you must be open and honest about it. So, what are the common questions kids ask about cancer?
Here are five common questions kids ask about cancer:
- Is it contagious?
- Is it my fault they have disease?
- Can you die from it?
- Can my friend with cancer come back to school?
- Do people get it because they are bad?
Keep reading to learn more about the answers to these common questions kids ask about it. I'll include a detailed answer per question to ensure you never omit any key information.
1. Is It Contagious?
Kids frequently worry that cancer may spread to them or others, much like a common cold or flu does.
You can start by explaining the common types of cancer in kids and how uncommon it's for them to get it.
It is not contagious because the sick cells are located inside the body and can't spread to anyone else in the way that a cold or the flu can. However, you can get diagnosed with cancer, but it's more common in adults than in children.
2. Is It My Fault They Have It?
It's important to let kids understand that they had nothing to do with the onset of cancer in a person. Take care to emphasize that it wasn't their fault.
It's not your fault they have it because it can happen to anyone. Even medical researchers are yet to understand why certain people get it while others don't.
A clear answer will help a kid feel at ease when one of their friends or loved ones is diagnosed with cancer. Aim to set a positive example as they look forward to their recovery.
3. Can You Die From It?
This common question arises when kids learn about a cancer diagnosis. They care about the health and safety of that person. So, you must be honest about the condition to put their fears to rest.
You can die from it, but the chances are higher for older people than younger ones. However, the chances of dying from cancer are minimal these days because of the recent advancements in cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation.
It would also be a good idea to talk about the side effects of cancer treatments, such as hair loss, fatigue, and nausea, to prepare the child for when they notice anything out of the ordinary with a loved one that has it.
4. Can My Friend With Cancer Come Back to School?
Teachers have difficulty answering this question, especially when one of their students gets diagnosed with this disease and is hospitalized. You only need to reassure the other kids that their friend is likely to return to school very soon.
Your friend with cancer can come to school when the doctor permits it. But, when they come back, you may see them returning to the hospital for routine checkups to ensure they get their treatments on time for a full recovery.
5. Do People Get It Because They Are Bad?
Most kids want to know how someone gets cancer and whether it only affects bad people. In other words, they are eager to know what causes cancer. You can talk about the causes of the disease with kids and adults to educate them more.
People do not get cancer because they are bad. For instance, most kids develop this disease through uninherited DNA or gene mutation. In contrast, adults get it through several factors that cause gene mutation, such as smoking, cancer-causing chemicals, radiation, viruses, and more.
Educating kids about cancer helps them learn how to live with friends or family members with the condition without any fear or discrimination.