LC-+Cancer+Article


 * 1) The article begins by mentioning two important people with cancer. Who is Elizabeth Edwards? Who is Tony Snow? (Include their politcal party, job, and current health status-this article was written in April-your answer should have more than what you can find in the article): Elizabeth Edwards is the wife of presidential candidate John Edwards (Democrat). She was diagnosed with breast cancer, the day her husband conceded defeat in 2004. She is an attorney along with her husband who was a vice presidential candidate in 2004. Mrs. Edwards is currently diagnosed with stage IV metastases cancer. This stage is not curable, but it is treatable. She is currently asymptomatic, and will continue to campaign with her husband. Tony Snow (Republican) is President Bush's press secretary. Snow was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2005. Two years later, he underwent surgery for an abdominal growth. It was malignant and he was diagnosed with metastasis cancer. He continued his work at the White House until now. Snow will resign from his position as press secretary in two days (September 14) due to higher financial needs.
 * 2) What is a metastatic cancer cell?: Metastatic cancer cells break out of their neoplastic mass and feed off the vital nutrients of their surrounding organs, cells, and muscles.
 * 3) Why does the author call cancer cells barbarians and cannibals?: When stealing the nutrients intended for other cells is not enough, a metastatic cancer cell will break open a neighboring cell and feast on the cell itself.
 * 4) What do we know about the events that transform a normal cell to a cancer cell?: A normal cell mutates in its chromosomes and thinks it is receiving a growth hormone, when it is not.
 * 5) Why is harder to study metastatic cancer cells?: Metastases is always moving throughout the body; it is hard to control in one area before it moves on.
 * 6) How many cells do primary tumors shed each day (in a rodent)? Yet how many metastatic tumors do these rodents have?: Maybe a million primary cancer cells can be shed in to a rodent each day, but the actually metastatic cells can be counted on one hand.
 * 7) Describe two ways metastatic cells can travel through the body avoiding detection from our immune system.: By diminishing their size, metastatic cells can disguise themselves as parasites by pinching off excess cytoplasm. Some can catch a ride on a group of blood cells that will take the cell into tissue.
 * 8) Where is the first site (oasis for the cancer cell) that metastasis generally occurs? Why? Why is it an oasis? (What is an oasis?): A wound site, because there are platelets and growth hormones available to help cancer produce.
 * 9) What is a dormant micrometastasis? Why are they relevant to human health? Micrometastasis is a cell that is not interacting with its surroundings, and therefore not reproducing or adapting. Humans may have millions of dormant micrometastasis cells.
 * 10) What evidence do we have that metastasis occurs in organs that are similar to the organ of the primary tumor? Give two examples. Breast cancer cells metastasize in bone cells where it is easy to find calcium ions for breast milk. But instead of taking this nutrient back, the metastasis feeds on the calcium quickly dissolving the bone.