Cancer Flashcards
Cancer
A mutation in the genes that cause cell division to grow out of control
Causes of cancer
UV rays - ionising radiation
Carcinogenic chemicals - Smoking
Two types of tumours
Malignant - Grows fast and will invade other parts of body
Benign - Grows slowly and kept in one place and doesn’t invade othet parts of tissue
Treatments for cancer
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Drugs
How does chemotherapy work
Prevents synthesis of enzymes required for DNA replication stop the cell cycle before the S phase . DNA cannot be replicated so cell won’t divide
How does radiotherapy work
Damages DNA so the cell will not pass the check points in the S phase . Forces the cell to kill itself (Apoptosis)
Drugs
Prevent spindle fibres from forming which will prevent mitosis as one cell will contain double the DNA and one cell will have none making them both unsuitable for division
