Cancer

Question 1

what are the types of tumours?

Answer 1

malignant- the tumour does spread (cancerous)
benign-the tumour dosen’t spread (non cancerous)

Question 2

what is cancer and how does it occur?

Answer 2

cancer is the uncontrolled division of cells and occurs when mutations happen in the genes controlling cell division

Question 3

describe a benign tumour

Answer 3

benign are not cancerous and are localized usually surrounded by a membrane

Question 4

describe a malignant tumour

Answer 4

malignant are cancerous and invade neighbouring tissues usually through the bloodstream where they form secondary tumours

Question 5

what are some risk factors of cancer?

Answer 5

age
sex
family medical history
factors in the environment
smoking
alcohol
diet and obesity
sun exposure
inactivity

Question 6

how does smoking and uv light increase risk of cancer?

Answer 6

carcinogens from smoking and uv light promote mutations in the DNA which can cause cancer

Question 7

how can ionising radiation cause cancer?

Answer 7

ionising radiation can affect chemical reactions inside the cell causing damage which can result in mutations that can cause cancer

Question 8

what are the treatments for cancer and describe them?

Answer 8

the treatments are:
-chemotherapy (using drugs or chemicals that either stops cancer cells from dividing or make them self destruct)
-radiotherapy (kills cancer cells and shrinks tumours and is often quick and localized)

Question 9

describe chemotherapy in further detail?

Answer 9

can either be monotherapy (one medicine) or combined therapy (two or more drugs)

can be administered by injections or tablets

the drugs can disrupt the way cancer cells divide by preventing them multiplying

the drugs can often damage healthy cells which can often recover and is why people feel ill after chemo