1 in 2 Flashcards
what is cancer
uncontrolled cell division
what does metastasis
the process by which cells break off from a primary tumour and spread to other areas of the body to secondary tumours
why are mutated cells different from normal cells
they are structurally and functionally different. they are an occurrence of a genetic coding error.
what is a malignant tumour
grows rapidly, less compact and more likely to be life threatening as they metastasis
how does chemotherapy work
disrupts the cell cycle via preventing the DNA from replicating
or inhibiting metaphase of mitosis by interfering with spindle formation so the chromatids cant actually form the separate cells because they are stuck in the middle
what is the problem with chemotherapy
they also disrupt the cell cycle of normal cells. however they are very effective at targeting rapidly reproducing cells and so are damaged to a greater degree than the normal cells. but hair cells which are rapidly reproducing will be damaged along the way, this explains the hair loss characterisation of chemotherapy.