Understanding Cancer: Types, Causes and Treatments
Understanding Cancer: Types, Causes and Treatments
Items in this lesson
Understanding Cancer: Types, Causes and Treatments
What do you already know about cancer and tumours?
Learning Objective
At the end of the lesson you will be able to explain what cancer is, describe different types of tumours, discuss how cancer develops, and evaluate common treatments and their impacts on health.
What is Cancer?
Cancer is a disease caused by uncontrolled cell division, often forming a mass called a tumour. Some cancers do not form solid tumours (e.g., leukaemia).
Benign vs Malignant Tumours
Not cancerous. Do not spread or invade other tissues. Often removed surgically.
Malignant Tumours
Cancerous. Can invade nearby tissue and spread (metastasise) to other parts of the body.
Benign Tumours
Development of Cancer
Cancer develops when mutations disrupt cell cycle control, causing cells to divide uncontrollably. Mutations may be inherited or caused by environmental factors.
What Causes Cancer?
Common causes include genetic mutations, exposure to carcinogens (e.g., tobacco, radiation), viral infections, and lifestyle factors such as diet and alcohol use.
Impact of Cancer on Health
Anxiety, depression, fear, and emotional distress can affect both patients and their families.
Mental Health
Pain, fatigue, weight loss, organ dysfunction, and disruption of normal body functions.
Physical Effects
Types of Cancer and Their Treatments
Different types of cancer include invasive breast cancer, thyroid cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute myeloid leukaemia, and germ cell testicular cancer. Each type may require specific treatment approaches.
Invasive Breast Cancer
Treatments: breast conserving surgery, mastectomy, monoclonal antibody therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and talking therapies. Choice depends on cancer stage and patient needs.
Invasive Breast Cancer
Common Treatments and How They Relieve Symptoms
Breast conserving surgery and Mastectomy
Remove cancerous tissue to prevent spread.
Relieve symptoms by reducing tumour size and pressure.
Monoclonal antibody therapy
Targets specific cancer cell markers.
Can block growth signals or deliver toxic agents to cancer cells.
Chemotherapy — Evaluation
Uses cytotoxic drugs to kill rapidly dividing cells.
Benefits: Shrinks tumours, prevents spread, used before/after surgery.
Limitations: Side effects (hair loss, nausea), affects healthy cells.
Radiotherapy — Evaluation
High‑energy radiation destroys cancer cells.
Benefits: Localised treatment, effective for pain relief.
Limitations: Skin irritation, fatigue, long-term tissue changes.
Talking therapies
Psychological support to manage anxiety, depression and trauma.
Includes CBT, counselling, support groups.
Thyroid Cancer
Common treatments: thyroidectomy (removal of the thyroid), radioactive iodine treatment, and talking therapies for patient support.
Thyroid Cancer Treatments & Symptom Relief
1. Thyroidectomy
Removal of part or all of the thyroid.
Relieves symptoms by removing tumour pressure on windpipe, oesophagus, and nerves.
May require lifelong hormone replacement.
2. Radioactive Iodine (RAI)
Targets leftover thyroid cancer cells using iodine uptake.
Helps prevent recurrence and treats spread.
Talking Therapies
Supports coping with diagnosis, treatment stress, and long‑term uncertainty.
Recommended for psychological wellbeing during follow‑up.
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
What is Non‑Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)?
Cancer of lymphocytes (white blood cells) within the lymphatic system.
Develops when lymphocytes divide abnormally and continuously, accumulating in lymph nodes or organs and forming tumours.
Can be low‑grade (slow‑growing) or high‑grade (fast‑growing), influencing treatment urgency
Main Treatments & Evaluation
Monoclonal Antibody Therapy
Targets specific proteins on lymphoma cells (e.g., rituximab).
Often combined with chemotherapy (chemo‑immunotherapy).
Benefits: Improves remission rates, effective in both low‑ and high‑grade NHL.
Limitations: Infusion reactions, immune suppression; may be less effective if lymphoma lacks target proteins.
Chemotherapy
Uses cytotoxic drugs to kill rapidly dividing lymphoma cells.
First‑line for both low‑ and high‑grade NHL; often combined with monoclonal antibodies.
Benefits: Can induce complete remission, especially in high‑grade NHL.
Limitations: Hair loss, infection risk, fatigue; may require multiple cycles and hospital visits
3. Radiotherapy
High‑energy radiation to destroy lymphoma cells.
Used alone in early low‑grade disease or after chemotherapy in high‑grade disease.
Benefits: Highly effective for localised lymph nodes; can relieve symptoms quickly.
Limitations: Skin irritation, fatigue; long‑term risk of secondary cancers (rare).
Talking Therapies
Psychological support to manage anxiety, uncertainty, and treatment burden.
Recommended throughout diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
Helps patients cope with “watch and wait” periods common in low‑grade NHL.
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
What is AML?
Aggressive cancer of myeloid stem cells, causing uncontrolled growth of abnormal white blood cells.
Symptoms develop quickly: fatigue, infections, bruising/bleeding, breathlessness.
Requires rapid treatment due to fast progression
Main Treatments & Evaluation
Chemotherapy
Primary treatment for AML across all age groups.
Delivered in phases: induction, consolidation, and sometimes maintenance.
Benefits:
Most effective method for achieving remission.
Induction therapy leads to remission in ~75% of adults under 60 and ~50% of adults over 60.
Limitations:
Severe side effects: infection risk, hair loss, mucositis, infertility.
Requires hospitalisation and close monitoring.
Bone Marrow / Stem Cell Transplant
Used after chemotherapy to increase cure rates or maintain remission.
Allogeneic transplant (donor cells) is most common; autologous is rare.
Benefits:
Offers the best chance of long‑term remission for high‑risk AML.
Limitations:
Not suitable for all patients (age, fitness, comorbidities).
Risks include graft‑versus‑host disease and severe infections.
Talking Therapies
AML treatment is physically and emotionally demanding; psychological support is recommended throughout care.
Helps patients manage anxiety, uncertainty, and long hospital stays.
Supports coping with long‑term effects of treatment and survivorship
Germ Cell Testicular Cancer
Typically managed by surgically removing the affected testicle, followed by talking therapies to support mental health.
Summary
You have learnt the difference between benign and malignant tumours, explored how cancer develops, reviewed main cancer types, and discussed various treatments and their impacts on physical and mental health.
Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.
Write down 2 things you want to know more about.
Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.
