Carole is a 60-year-old white housewife born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, who
ID: 3520387 • Letter: C
Question
Carole is a 60-year-old white housewife born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, who presents to her primary care clinic with concerns regarding shortness of breath. She undergoes chest radiography and is told that she has lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among nonsmokers in the United States. When she asks why she might have developed lung cancer—she has never smoked—she is told that radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. Radon is a tasteless, odorless, invisible radioactive gas that is estimated to cause thousands of cancer deaths each year. Radon in soil and water enters homes through cracks and gaps in a house’s foundation, floors, and walls.
1. What adaptations are the cells likely to make in response to the stressor of radon exposure?
2. What is the most likely cause of cellular damage caused by radon?
3. What risk factors were mentioned in this case study related to radon exposure?
4. What laboratory tests can be used to identify the expected adaptations?
Explanation / Answer
ANSWER- The alpha particle exposure by radon include mutations, chromosome aberrations, up or down regulation of cytokines generation of reactive oxygen species, modification of the cell cycle, and the increased production of proteins associated with cell-cycle regulation and carcinogenesis.
2. What is the most likely cause of cellular damage caused by radon?
Answer-
Radon decays vvery fastly, giving off tiny radioactive particles. When inhaled, the radioactive particles may damaged the cells that line the lung. Long-term exposure toradon may lead to lung cancer, the cancer proven to be associated with inhaling radon.
3. What risk factors were mentioned in this case study related to radon exposure?
Answer- Risk factors- Shortness of breath, Lung Cancer even non- smokers, It enters into the home by soil and water.
4. What laboratory tests can be used to identify the expected adaptations?
Answer- In kaboratory we use low-dose computerized tomography (LDCT), chest x-ray (CXR), sputum cytology, or a combination of these tests to identify the expected adaptations.