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Not an Old Person's Disease

By Jennifer Miskowski, Anne Galbraith

Not an Old Person's Disease


 

Abstract

The overall goal of this case is to introduce students to the genetic basis of cancer while teaching them about melanoma. The fictional protagonist of the case is 20-year-old Judy. Fair-haired and fair-skinned, Judy covets the kind of suntan that her friend Mariah seems to be able to get effortlessly.  All Judy has to show for the hours she spends in the sun is a bad sunburn. But then Judy notices a mole on her leg that looks odd.  This case was written specifically for a general education health and wellness class taken by students ranging from first-year students to seniors, and from non-science majors to biology majors.

   

Date Posted

09/23/2002

Overview

Objectives

  • Learn about the risk factors of melanoma.
  • Understand that cancer is not necessarily an "old person's disease."
  • Learn that that cancer is caused by mutations in normal genes found in cells.
  • Understand the difference between benign and malignant tumors.
  • Learns the ABCDE's of self-examination for melanoma.
  • Learn that a predisposition to melanoma (and other cancers) can be inherited.

Keywords

Skin cancer; melanoma; tumor; tumor suppressor; proto-oncogene; oncogene; melanocyte; malignant; malignancy

  

Subject Headings

Biology (General)
Medicine (General)

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division, General public & informal education

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Discussion

 

 

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