ASSIGNMENT #6               Due: Monday, 3/20/00

Topic: Chronic Illness: Cancer and Other Chronic Conditions

Answer each of the following questions in a short paragraph (no more than 50-75 words each, for a total of 2-3 pages double-spaced).  The (*) notation after a question means that it relates to material presented only or mostly in class.

1. Briefly summarize what is happening at the cellular level when cancer develops in the body?

2. Why are the recent trends in cancer mortality described as good news and bad news? (*)

3. Summarize what is currently known about smoking as a risk factor for cancer.

4. Basing your answer on what has been shown in recent studies, what would you say to people who think they can protect themselves from cancer through changes in diet?

5. What evidence is there to suggest that psychological factors may be significant risk factors in cancer or related to cancer survival?

6. What are the major issues a health psychologist is likely to encounter in working with patients living with a chronic illness?

7. Summarize the psychological factors that may contribute to the development and course of diabetes, and then explain the significance for health psychologists.

8. What are the major ways in which HIV spreads in the population?

9. Summarize the methods and programs psychologists have used to fight against the AIDS epidemic, and evaluate their success, if any.

10. Briefly summarize the symptoms you are most likely to see in the early stage and then in the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease.

Copyright ©1998 Beverly J. Volicer and Steven F. Tello, UMass Lowell.  You may freely edit these pages  for use in a non-profit, educational setting.  Please include this copyright notice on all pages.