HEALTH AND

DISESASE
D O N E B Y : T H E O N E A N D O N LY J AY _ S A U C E
A K A WAV E B O S S
OBJECTIVE
• To discuss the reasons for the regional distribution of cancer, including the roles of
environmental hazards, food additives, viruses, genetic factors, implications of symptoms
awareness and failure to seek treatment in management of the disease
WAH CANCER?
• This is the abnormal growth of cells, in which cells divide in an uncontrolled way and can
invade nearby tissues. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a cancer that
begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs. Sarcoma is a cancer that
begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive
tissue. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue, such as the bone marrow,
and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood.
• Cancer arises when the numerous genes that control the timing on mitosis become altered,
which causes the cells to divide uncontrollably.
• Continuous division of cells can result in the formation of lumps known as tumours.
• If tumours remains in one place they tend remain contained and are less harmful. A
tumour like this is said to be benign (warm and gentle).
• If the tumour invades tissues and spreads around the body it is called a cancer which is
very dangerous.
• When the tumour breaks away and starts to produce more tumours else where in the
body it is known as metastasis and is said to be malignant.
CANTINYOUASION OF CANCER
• The earlier a cancer is detected, better the chance of it being cured because the cancer is
in the early stage of growth (benign).
• A older person is more susceptible of developing cancer as a result of a series of events
which takes inside the cell which causes its destruction.
• As stated earlier, a cell contains many different genes which regulate and control cell
division. Some of these genes include: regulatory genes such as protoncogenes, which can
mutate to form oncogenes, which causes cells to divide uncontrollably, resulting in
formation of cancer.
• Cells also contain genes known as repressor genes, which are the genes which inhibit cell
division. However they can also mutate and therefore lose their function, allowing the
uncontrollable division of cells.
• Cells contain more protoncogenes than repressor genes and it usually takes mutation of
several protoncogenes before cancer can develop
• However there are different versions of these genes, meaning that some are more likely to
mutate than others. In addition, some people may have different versions of the genes
which make them more vulnerable to certain cancers than others.
CAWSIS OF MUTATION
• Even though random mistakes can occur during DNA replication resulting in cancer.
There are many different environmental factors that increase the risk of mutation. These
environmental factors are known as carcinogens.
• Environmental factors include:
1. Ionizing radiation such as X-Rays and cosmic rays
2. Ultraviolet light
3. Chemicals such as mustard gas, aflatoxin and chromium
4. Infection by certain viruses
• These all contribute to the changing of sequences of bases on DNA therefore resulting in
mutation and later on cancer.
IONIZING RADIATION
• Types of ionizing radiation include: X-rays, alpha and beta radiation (known as back
ground)
• These forms of ionizing radiation contains a great quantity of energy which allows them to
penetrate deep into the body causing the breakage of bonds in the DNA molecule which
can change the base sequences in the DNA which results in the formation of cancer
ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT
• Ultraviolet light is a type of electromagnetic radiation which humans are unable to see.
• The type of radiation has less energy than ionizing radiation and is unable to penetrate
the skin therefore they are unable to reach organs and tissues. This type of radiation can
only result in skin cancer.
• NB: Individuals who have dark skin are less vulnerable to ultraviolet light because the
pigment melanin absorbs it, therefore protecting the cells beneath.
CHEMICALS
• Chemicals which can result in cancer include :
1. Mustard gas
2. Oxides of nitrogen and nitrosamines found in tobacco
3. Alcohol
4. Food additives (such as amaranth)
5. Artificial sweeteners( cyclamate and saccharin)
MUSTARD GAS
• Sulphur gas also known as mustard gas was used in the First World War and has been
long known for causing cancer of the nose, larynx and bronchus. It works like other
carcinogens, which alter the structure of DNA molecules resulting in the development of
cancers.
TOBACCO
• This plant is part of the genus Nicotiana of the family Solanaceae.
• Tobacco smoking contains several kinds of carcinogens including nitrosamines and oxides
of nitrogen which can increase the risk of developing cancers such as lung cancer.
• Nitric oxide is a free radical which oxidize DNA in cells resulting in cancers.
• Negative effects of tobacco include lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
ALCOHOL
• Alcohol can increase the risk of developing different types of cancers if drank over long
periods of time.
• Negatives effects of alcohol intake includes:
1. Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver): This is a form of liver disease which is caused by
excessive consumption of alcohol . Each time the liver is injured by alcohol consumption
,it tries to repair itself. In the process a scar tissue forms. As cirrhosis progress more
scar tissues form , which makes it difficult for the liver to carry out its function (filters
blood coming from the digestive tract before passing it to the rest of the body)
2. Alcoholic hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver. This can later on result in cirrhosis.
3. Fatty liver disease: This arises due to heavy drinking of alcohol. The liver breaks down
most of the alcohol that is consumed by an individual so that it can removed from the
body. This process of breaking down alcohol can generate harmful substances which
can damage liver cells, promote inflammation and weaken the body’s natural defences.
4. High blood pressure (hypertension)
5. Stroke
FOOD ADDITIVES
• Food additives are substances which are added to food items before sale to improve the
quality such as appearance, taste or the shelf life of the products.
• Food additives are usually tested for health risks before they are licensed for use.
• If there is evidence that food additives may be harmful to the health, they are not licensed
to be used.
• NB: In a 1971 study in Russia it was found that there was a link between Amaranth which
was used as dye in food and cosmetics, and cancer. There it was banned from being used
again.
ARTIFICIAL SWEETNERS
• Artificial sweeteners such as cyclamate and saccharin have been observed to cause cancer
in laboratory labs when they were feed high doses. However there is no evidence that they
can cause cancer in humans.
VIRUSES
• It is known that some viruses such as the Human Papilloma virus, HPV, can cause cancer.
• This cancer is usually passed on during sexual intercourse.
• Some types of this can only cause slight problems such as the development of warts. These
are not dangerous and are classified as benign tumours.
• However some kinds of HPV carry a code for a protein that that interacts with the region
of our DNA coding for a protein called p53. Alteration of the p53 gene can cause many
different cancers in humans.