Cancer

Question 1

Define cancer

Answer 1

A group of disorders in which certain cells lose their ability to control both the rate of mitosis and the number of times mitosis takes place

Question 2

What is a tumour?

Answer 2

A mass of cells caused by cells which have lost their ability to control their rate of mitosis

Question 3

What are benign tumours?

4 points

Answer 3

Tumours which are not life-threatening
The cells in benign tumours stop dividing after some time
Benign tumours do not invade other tissues
Can be surgically removed

Question 4

What are two examples of benign tumours?

Answer 4

Warts

Skin ‘tags’

Question 5

What are malignant tumours?

4 points

Answer 5

Tumours caused by the uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal cells
They are life-threatening
They can move from one place to another in the body (metastasis)
They divide indefinitely and are therefore ‘immortal’

Question 6

What is metastasis?

Answer 6

The movement of cancer cells from one area of the body to another

Question 7

What are oncogenes?

Answer 7

Cancer-causing genes

Question 8

What causes cancer?

Answer 8

When normal cells are altered to form cancer-causing genes

Question 9

What brings about the formation oncogenes?

Answer 9

Carcinogens

Question 10

What are carcinogens?

Answer 10

Cancer-causing agents

Question 11

What are some examples of carcinogens?

Answer 11

Cigarette smoke
Asbestos fibres 
Dioxins 
Pesticides
Ultraviolet Radiation 
Some viruses

Question 12

How is cancer treated?

3

Answer 12

Surgery
Radiation
Chemotherapy

Question 13

How is radiation used to treat cancer?

Answer 13

It is used to burn out cancer

Question 14

How is chemotherapy used to treat cancer?

Answer 14

Chemicals are used to slow down mitosis