Cancer Flashcards
what leads to uncontrolled growth and mitosis
Mitosis is extremely tightly controlled, genes in the nucleus tell cells when to divide and when to stop dividing
sometimes changes take place in these genes and that lead to uncontrolled growth and mitosis
what does uncontrolled growth and mitosis produce
a tumour
what are the 2 types of tumours
benign and malignant
what are benign tumours
growths of abnormal cells which are found in one area
how are benign tumours usually contained
within a membrane
key feature of benign tumours
they DONT invade other parts of the body.
They stay in ONE place
What are malignant tumours like
Malignant cells INVADE neighbouring tissues and move into the bloodsteam
what do malignant cells invade?
surrounding tissues and moves into the bloodstream
what are malignant tumour cells classed as?
a cancer
once in the blood stream, what do malignant cells do
spread to different parts of the body and form new tumours
what are the new tumours that have been formed by the spreading of malignant cells in the blood stream called?
secondary tumours
name the risk factors to cancer
genetics- inherited (eg breast cancer, prostate cancer, cancer of the large intestine)
lifestyle-smoking= linked to lung cancer. skin cancer = ultraviolet light (eg sunbathing). mouth and throat cancer=Alcohol.
substances in environment:
Radon
what is radon
how is radon harmful?
a radioactive gas which increases your risk of developing lung cancer
releases ionising radiation which damages the DNA in our cellThis can cause our cells to undergo uncontrolled cell division, leading to cancers
