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Carcinogen

Glossary Index

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Carcinoma

Definition

• A carcinoma is a malignant (cancerous) growth that arises from the epithelium (the covering of internal and external surfaces of the body, including the lining of vessels and other small cavities). This includes the skin and lining of the organs such as breast, prostate, lung, stomach or bowel.

Additional Info

Carcinomas tend to spread (a process called metastasis) through the blood vessels, lymph channels or spinal fluid to other organs such as the bone, liver, lung or the brain. See the Cancer Research UK links under Further Reading for more information.

According to the American Cancer Society, at least 80% of all cancers are carcinomas.

According to NIOSH's Publication No. 2010-145 (May 2010), past estimates that about 4% of cancer deaths in the U.S. are caused by occupational exposures have underestimated the actual rate. For example, exposures to carcinogens in the workplace may not result in cancer until 15-40 years later.

MSDS Relevance

"Carcinomas" usually appears on an MSDS as a health effect caused by chronic (long-term) exposure to a carcinogen (cancer-causing substance). The MSDS may specifically mention studies that have shown this effect in animals and/or humans.

Use extreme caution when working with carcinogenic (or potentially carcinogenic) materials in the workplace. Be sure to use all proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and to minimize your exposure. Find alternative procedures or materials if possible. Proper engineering controls and adminstrative controls are definitely required when working with carcinogens or potential carcinogens!

Further Reading The American Cancer Society. The National Cancer Institute (U.S. National Institutes of Health). Types of Cells and Cancer and How a Cancer Spreads at Cancer Research UK. See the Further Readings section of the carcinogen entry for lists and databases of cancer-causing substances. The NIH's MedLine Plus Medical Encyclopedia discusses a number of common types of carcinomas: Basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) Renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) Pancreatic carcinoma (pancreatic cancer) Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid Ductal and lobal carcinoma (breast cancer) Cancer, including Breast and Prostate at BioMedSearch, a search engine for highly technical info on the topic. See also: carcinogen, clastogen, cytotoxin, mutagen, teratogen.

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Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is believed to be true and accurate, however ILPI makes no guarantees concerning the veracity of any statement. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. ILPI strongly encourages the reader to consult the appropriate local, state and federal agencies concerning the matters discussed herein.