Cancer

Series Foreword
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Guide to Health Literacy

Common Misconceptions about Cancer
1. Cancer is a single disease that can appear anywhere in the body
2. Only old people get cancer
3. There are âsuperfoodsâ or special supplements that can prevent or even cure cancer
4. Living near power lines causes cancer
5. People with dark or tanned skin do not get skin cancer

Questions and Answers
Cancer Basics
1. What is cancer?
2. How common is cancer?
3. How does cancer develop?
4. What role does mutation play in cancer development?
5. What are the hallmarks of cancer?
6. What is a tumor?
7. What is metastasis?
8. What are the different types of cancer?
9. Where in the body can I get cancer, and which cancers are most common?
10. How long have we known about cancer and how was it treated in the past?
11. What is the economic burden of cancer?

Cancer Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention
12. What causes cancer?
13. What role do lifestyle choices play in cancer risk?
14. Which cancers can be hereditary?
15. Are you more likely to get cancer again if you have had it before?
16. How can you lower your risk of getting cancer?
17. Which cancers are preventable?
18. What are carcinogens?
19. Which demographic groups have the highest risk of developing cancer?
20. What organizations and public health initiatives exist, and how can they help prevent cancer?

Diagnosing Cancer
21. What are the symptoms of cancer?
22. How is cancer found and diagnosed?
23. How does cancer screening work?
24. How is cancer staged?
25. How is cancer graded?
26. Why is it important to find cancer early?
27. What is the prognosis for someone diagnosed with cancer?
28. What are the screening guidelines in the United States?

Treating Cancer
29. Can cancer be cured?
30. How is a treatment plan created?
31. How are tumors removed, and what are the potential side effects?
32. How does radiation work and what are the potential side effects?
33. How does chemotherapy work and what are the potential side effects?
34. How does hormone therapy work and what are the potential side effects?
35. How does immunotherapy work and what are the potential side effects?
36. How does a stem cell or bone marrow transplant work and what are the potential side effects?
37. How does targeted therapy work and what are the potential side effects?
38. How does photodynamic therapy work and what are the potential side effects?
39. What are current cutting-edge cancer treatments?
40. Is complementary or alternative medicine an option?
41. What is the best way to look for cancer information on the internet?
42. What are the long-term health concerns after cancer treatment?
43. What happens if the treatment fails, or if the cancer comes back?
44. What is palliative care and why is it important to consider end of life issues?
45. How can I support someone who has cancer?
46. What is the future direction of cancer research?

Case Studies
1. Taliaâs Colon Cancer Story
2. Lucasâs Hodgkins Lymphoma Story
3. Lindaâs Melanoma Story
4. Reneeâs Cervical Cancer Story
5. Maxâs Glioblastoma Story

Directory of Resources
Glossary
Index
About the Author