biology Flashcards
what is cancer?
- body cell’s grow and reproduce uncontrollably
- the mass is called a malignant tumour
where do malignant tumours most often form?
internal organs but also skin, bones
what is metastatis?
when cancer begins in one part of the body and spreads to another
what increases the risk of cancer?
1/3 cancers behaviour and diet related
high BMI, low fruit/veg, lack of exercise, smoking, drinking
what is a carcinoma?
cancerous tumour starting from the skin (epithelial tissue)
what is a sarcoma?
cancerous tissue arising from connective tissue such as the muscle
what is leukaemia?
cancerous tumour in bone marrow where white blood cells are formed?
what are lymphomas?
cancercous tissues formed in the lymphatic system, where white blood cells are formed
what is a benign tumour?
- one that does not metastasise
- doesn’t contain cancerous cells
- don’t invade surrounding tissue/spread to other sites
problems with benign tumours?
they can grow large enough to cause pain and be life threatening
what is the purpose of the nucleus?
- contains genetic material
- controls cell
- contains DNA to instruct protein synthesis
- CELL DIVISION OCCURS
- produces cell organelles
what is the cytoplasm?
- aqueous material
- complex network of microtubules and filaments
- allows movement of molecules around the cell
what is mitosis?
- cell division where all daughter cells have the same no. of chromosomes as the parent
- all cells apart from sex cells
what is meiosis?
only half of the chromosomes found in the parent cell are in the daughter cell?
how does the cell control breakdown in cancer cells?
- cells no longer respond to normal controls that determine growth
- tissues can then grow, invade and crowd out other tissues
- mitosis breaks down
what is a carcinogen?
something that damages cell’s genetic info
can be physical, chemical, biological
are mutagens bad?
- mutagens cause mutations
- mutagens can cause carcinogens
how does cancer develop?
- over exposure to carcinogen cause repairing of genes to fail
- genes function abnormally = eventually cancer
- cancer cell divides passes damaged genes on
how does metastasis happen?
cancerous cell breaks off into 1. lymph vessels 2. blood vessels (easily spread to organs) due to being less adhesive
how are cancer cells invasive?
- cancer competes normal tissues for nutrients and space
- death of healthy cells
what is angiogenesis?
growth of new blood vessels can be trigger ed by the invasive nature of cancers, so cancer is supplied with nutrients
what is necrosis?
if tumour outgrows its blood supply, ‘necrosis’ are appears that has slower growth
how does cancer cause pain?
tumour pressure builds on nerves/blocks passageways
what are the methods for cancer treatment?
- surgery
- chemotherapy (drugs)
- radiation therapy
