Chapter 11 discussed many topics from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and the many different types of cancer. Before reading this chapter, I have had some familiarity with the topics of cancer and diabetes. The first topic that interested me was the different types of cancers were. Cancer is the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. There are four types of cancer that were listed in the text, which include: carcinomas, sarcomas, lymphomas, and leukemias. Carcinomas are cancers that occur on the epithelial tissue, the outermost layer of the skin. This type of cancer metastasize initially through the circulatory or lymphatic system and form solid tumors. Sarcomas occur in the mesodermal layer, which includes the muscles, bones, and connective tissue. Sarcomas are less common, but also form solid tumors. Lymphomas progress and metastasize through the lymphatic system, which is the infection-fighting area of the body. Leukemias are cancers of the blood-forming areas of the body, such as the bone marrow and spleen, which is called leukemia. Leukemia is a non-solid tumor and is characterized by an abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells that is produced in the body. I can vaguely remember my Aunt Nancy fighting through leukemia, but she lost her battle with cancer. It all occurred during the first few months of coming home to my new family after being adopted from China. I don’t have many memories of Nancy, but she was very close to my cousin Erin and my mom, who was her sister. Although cancer runs in my family, since I was adopted, I have no family medical records to determine the potential health outcomes for myself.
(Donatelle, 2019, p. 269)
Another interesting topic I learned while reading was understanding what diabetes entailed. Diabetes mellitus are a group a diseases, in which each has their own components. Focusing on type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not make enough insulin or cells in the body become resistant to its effect and do not efficiently use available insulin. I found it interesting to learn that type 2 diabetes develops slowly and in the early stages, cells begin to resist the effects of insulin, which is known as insulin resistance. In type 2 diabetes, insulin output declines and blood glucose levels increase. Reading about what happens in the body because of type 2 diabetes interested me because my mom has lived with it for many years. I grew up with my mom having to get medication and to take insulin injections daily. However, over the years, she has switched medications and only needs to take insulin injections once a week. I would ask her if it hurt because it seemed painful to always have to inject a needle. However, she said that it was important for her to continue taking insulin injections in order to stay healthy.
(Donatelle, 2019, p. 279)
The last topic that I found to be interesting was learning about skin cancer. I was not aware that it is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Most cases of skin cancer are highly treatable and non-life threatening, which include basal cell carcinoma or squamous carcinoma. These forms usually occur on the face, neck, ears, arms, hands, and legs as colored spots, scaly patches or bumps in the forms of warts. However, malignant melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and has caused 10,000 deaths in 2017. Malignant melanoma may occur as skin lesions. The size, shape, and color changes and spreads to regional organs and throughout the body. The survival rate falls to about 17 percent if it’s diagnosed after deeper levels of the skin have been invaded. An important prevention tactic is to limit exposure to harmful UV rays. The skin increases its thickness and the number or pigment cells when exposed to UV rays, resulting in darker, tanned skin. The skin’s immune cells are damaged when exposed to an increase in these rays, which lowers the normal immune protection of skin and it increases the chances for cancer. It is important to use a sunscreen that is not expired and does not have a low-SPF, as well as preventing the chance of a sunburn when outdoors. During the summer, whenever I go to the beach, or I am out for long hours of the day, I make sure to apply sunscreen. I even make sure to re-apply every few hours to prevent getting sunburned. I am extra cautious of my right arm that is burned because my doctors informed me that that skin is more prone to getting burned and they did not want the sun damaging the areas where I had surgery on.
(Donatelle, 2019, p. 275)
Health Aspect
This week has been very stressful. I registered for the Spring semester, but wasn’t able to get a few of the courses I needed. I had to calm myself down and realize that I still have time to complete my courses over the three semesters I have left. On top of that, I worked over eighteen hours and still had to study for two exams I had last week. I felt defeated and I was making it worse by over stressing. However, I am looking forward to this week and want to focus on what makes me happy and take things day by day. I started Christmas shopping and also getting birthday gifts for my friends upcoming birthdays. As the days start getting colder, I find myself staying in more, and it’s also been cloudy, which makes me feel lazy and want to nap. I know that things are going to get very busy with the discussions at work about scheduling for next semester, along with my professors already talking about when finals are. I want to make it a goal not to stress as much as I did this past week, and reassure myself that everything will work out.
Health Aspect 