Cancer
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LearningTranscript
00:00This is a tough one, folks.
00:06To stay in this game, he'll have to bank it off the polar bear, then through the windmill,
00:10down the spiral, and into the hole, all in one shot.
00:17Arnold Palmer himself would sweat this one.
00:20And this guy is no Arnold Palmer.
00:25He's not even an Arnold Palmer.
00:28Folks, I'm saying that this guy would lose to a cold beverage.
00:36Dear Tim and Moby, what happens when someone gets diagnosed with cancer?
00:41From Anastasia and Mercedes.
00:45I'm glad you asked.
00:46Because cancer affects a lot of people's lives.
00:49Whether it's their own health, a friend or relatives, or even a pet's.
00:54It can be really scary, especially when you don't know much about it.
00:58The good news is, doctors and scientists have learned a lot about cancer.
01:03And that knowledge is helping more people get successful treatment.
01:08Cancer is a disease that happens when cells start dividing uncontrollably.
01:13Every living thing is made up of one or more cells, and we humans have trillions.
01:18Each is created through cell division.
01:21One cell splits into two.
01:23That's how our bodies grow and replace old, worn-out cells.
01:27Normally, cells follow a set of rules so that new ones are made only when and where they're
01:32needed.
01:33These rules are written into your genetic code in a molecule called DNA.
01:38It's packed into every cell, and it has all of the instructions for building and maintaining
01:42your body.
01:43Every time a cell is born, it gets its own copy of the DNA instruction manual.
01:48But occasionally, there will be a mistake.
01:52These mutations can occur while DNA is being copied during cell division, or from damage
01:57that happens later on.
01:59Fortunately, our cells are really good at finding and fixing these errors.
02:05Even when a single mutation slips by, it usually isn't a big deal.
02:09The mistake will get copied into new cells without causing any problems.
02:13But over time, multiple mutations can build up.
02:17If there are enough mistakes in the rules for cell division, cancer can arise.
02:22The cell will divide when it's not supposed to, or it won't stop when it should.
02:26In many cancers, this creates a tumor, a lump of abnormal cells.
02:32As the cells keep dividing, they can become more disruptive, and cancer cells may start
02:37to spread to new areas of the body.
02:40This process, called metastasis, is how cancer can get really dangerous.
02:45As it spreads, it interferes with the body's ordinary functions.
02:50In the lungs, cancer interferes with breathing.
02:53In the stomach, it can get in the way of digesting food.
02:57The more it spreads, the more difficult it is to treat.
03:00That's why catching cancer early is so important.
03:03Right.
03:04It can be frightening to find some new spot or bump on your body.
03:09Don't worry.
03:10These things are almost never cancer, especially in kids.
03:14Old cancers are rare because our DNA hasn't had time to build up a lot of mistakes.
03:20But as people get older, it's not a bad idea to look out for this stuff.
03:24Most times, doctors rule out anything a patient finds as a freckle or whatever.
03:29But if they're not sure, they may take a small sample of tissue, called a biopsy, or
03:34order a body scan, an image of what's happening inside the body.
03:38Most lumps turn out to be benign tumors, a harmless mass of cells.
03:43If it does turn out to be cancer, location has a lot to do with how dangerous it is.
03:49Skin tumors are easier to catch early and treat since they're right on the surface,
03:53while tumors deep inside are more likely to go unnoticed and spread.
03:58In some cases, the patient can have surgery and recover quickly.
04:02Even tumors that are harmful or malignant can often be removed with surgery if they're
04:06detected early.
04:08Many times, cancer treatment plans also include chemotherapy or chemo.
04:13These are drugs that interfere with cell division, which cancer cells thrive on.
04:17Unfortunately, that also affects healthy tissue, especially cells in the gut and hair roots,
04:24since they're supposed to divide a lot.
04:27That's why patients on chemo often lose hair.
04:29They also tend to lose weight and can feel nauseous.
04:33Doctors may also prescribe radiation, which uses high-energy waves, kind of like x-rays.
04:39These rays mainly hurt cancer cells, but can affect healthy cells, too.
04:44Patients often feel tired and have some skin irritation afterward.
04:48Both therapies can be grueling, but they've saved lots of lives.
04:52Yeah, sometimes patients don't make it, even after long and difficult treatments.
04:58Saying goodbye can be one of the hardest things you'll ever have to do.
05:02Feeling sad or scared, or even angry, is completely normal.
05:07Remember that there are people around you who love you and support you.
05:10Talking about your feelings with an adult you trust can help you feel better.
05:15By the way, cancer isn't contagious, so hugs are just fine.
05:21The good news is we're getting steadily better at treating cancer.
05:25Over the last few decades, rates of remission have gone way up.
05:29That's when the signs of cancer are reduced or disappear completely.
05:33More than 90% of children with leukemia, a cancer of the blood, achieve complete remission.
05:39That's by far the most common childhood cancer.
05:42And researchers are developing safer and more effective treatments for all kinds of cancers.
05:48One is immunotherapy, which helps the body's immune system attack cancer cells, just like
05:53how it would fight off common cold or flu germs.
05:57Yep, support from family and friends can be a big factor in recovery, too.
06:03So if someone you know is battling cancer, show them that you have their back.
06:07They'll appreciate any gesture that you care.
06:11Like taking care of things they're too tired or sick to do, planning something fun to brighten
06:16their day, or even holding a fundraiser, like Moby and I.
06:19Oh, come on now, who's going to pay 12 bucks for an Arnold Palmer?
06:30All played!