It's Cancer?

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Rubric | Conclusion

Introduction

Cancer is a frightening disease. One way to confront that fear is to know more about the disease, how to cut your risk factors, and how to deal with the disease if you or someone you know has it.

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. If the spread of the cells is not controlled, it can result in death. Risk factors increase the possibility of a person having cancer. These factors can be external such as chemicals, radiation and viruses or internal such as immune conditions, hormones, and inherited mutations. These factors may act together or by themselves to promote carcinogenesis. Cancer is currently treated by surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormones, and immunotherapy.

Task

This year about 563,100 Americans are expected to die of cancer. This is more than 1,500 people per day. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, exceeded only by heart disease. In the last decade over 5 million people have died from cancer.

Many cancers can be prevented or treated sucessfully if found early enough. You can make a difference in your life and perhaps in the lives of your family and friends by learning more about the risk factors that cause cancer. Did you know that ALL cancer caused by cigarette smoking and heavy use of alcohol can be prevented completely? Did you know that it is predicted that one third of all cancer deaths could be prevented if young people would adapt good nutrition habits? Did you know that one million skin cancers are predicted for just next year but they could be prevented by using blockers to protect from the sun's rays?

This quest could save your life or the life of someone you love.
Are you ready? Can you handle the challenge?

Process

Your team is to visit various web sites to discover the keys to prevention of cancer. Along the way learn a bit about the disease and its treatment. When you have all the information you need, you are to create a poster, brochure, multimedia presentation, or webpage to share with family and friends to help them understand the risk factors and how they can change what they do now to help them prevent getting cancer later.

Good luck.
The lives of your friends and family rest on what you find out!

The Essential Question
How can cancer be prevented?

Guiding Questions:

  • What is cancer?
  • What causes cancer?
  • What cancers can be prevented?
  • What are risk factors?
  • What things can you do as a teenager to cut your risk of cancer?
  • What things should adults do to cut their risk of cancer?
  • What are the various treatments currently used for cancer?
  • Are some more apt to have cancer based on sex, age, or race?
  • What are some myths about cancer or it's treatment?
  • Now that you know more about cancer, what should you share and who should you share it with?
  • What kinds of visuals can you include in your brochure or poster that would best share what you now know?

    • Resources

    Online Games:

    To help you become familiar with basic terms and concepts, you can visit a Quia.com website. We recommend playing the Cancer Basics Flashcards or Matching Game first then move on to the Concentration. Before you know it, you will be an expert. Click on the link below:

    Cancer Basics
    (http://www.quia.com/custom/24650main.html)

    Websites:

  • American Cancer Association: www.cancer.org
  • National Cancer Institute www.nci.nih.gov
  • Glossary of Terms www2.cancer.org/cidKeywords
  • National Coalition for Cancer Research www.cancercoalition.org/
  • Facts-Figures-Statistics www.cancer.org/media/fact99.html
  • Nutrition: Time to Take Five www.5aday.com
  • Yahoo Cancer Links

    By Phone:

    Cancer Information Service 1-800-4-CANCER.

    Research Helps:

  • NC Wise Owl http://www.ncwiseowl.org
    [Select Reference and use online encyclopedias or online periodicals to help support your research. If your school uses a proxy you can use school access. If you are using dial up connection or working from home you may need to contact your library media coordinator for passwords to use these tools.]

    • Rubric

    A rubric can help you develop your project. Use this as a guide to your project development and a key to evaluation and assessment when your quest is complete.

    Conclusion

    Now that your quest is over you know a bit more about cancer, how to cut your risk factors, and how to deal with the disease if you or someone you know has it. Empowered with this new found knowledge, how can you share it with family, friends, or even your community? There are many community efforts to raise awareness about risk factors and to help in the fight to find a cure. Would you be willing to join others in your community? To find out more, revisit some of the websites or take a look at:

    Relay for Life

    NC Standard Course of Study

    Grade Level 6-8
    Healthful Living

    Competency Goal 1. Preparatory
    1.1 Explaining health risks for own age group.
    1.5 Accurately describing the incidence of high-risk behaviors for age group.

    Competency Goal 3. Protecting Self and Others
    3.5 Projecting potential personal health consequences of global environment problems.
    3.6 Selecting personal behavior goals and strategies contributing to environmental improvement.
    3.7 Evaluating media reports of health and medical research.

    a WebQuest in Health Issues
    created by Cynthia Wilson
    Southern Middle School
    in partnership with the Valvano Foundation
    and the NC Middle School Association "V Team Project"

    "Live as if you were to die tomorrow.
    Learn as if you were to live forever."
    Ghandi

    NC Education Place