Cancer

Question 1

What is cancer?

(1)

Answer 1

A disease caused by the uncontrollable division of cells

Uncontrollable division causes masses of cells to form

Question 2

What are the two kinds of tumours?

(threat factor)

(2)

Answer 2

1. Benign
2. Malignant

Question 3

What is a benign tumour?

(2)

Answer 3

1. When cells remain attached to eachother and do not spread to nearby tissues or body parts
2. Unlikely to cause harm

Question 4

What is a malignant tumor?

(2)

Answer 4

1. When cells detach and migrate around the body creating secondary tumors
2. Life threatening

Question 5

What is a primary tumour?

(1)

Answer 5

The original site of cancer, usually benign

Question 6

What is a secondary tumour?

(1)

Answer 6

Tumors formed following metastasis

Question 7

What is metastasis?

(1)

Answer 7

Movement of cells from a primary tumor to other body parts

Question 8

What causes the formation of primary tumours?

(1)

Answer 8

Mutations of cells, triggered by mutagens

Question 9

How do mutations occur?

Answer 9

1. Through random changes to the base sequence of genes
2. Changes of base sequence of genes are triggered by mutagens

(i.e. x-rays, cigarette smoke, radiation)

Question 10

How do mutations cause cancer?

(1)

Answer 10

Cancer occurs when many mutations occur in the same cell causing it to lose control over replication

Question 11

What is a mitotic index?

What is it and what is it used for?

(1)

Answer 11

1. A tool that determines percentage of cells in mitosis
2. Used to determine response of cancer cells to chemotherapy