Cancer

• Why is cancer harder to fix or cure than other diseases?

  Because cancer is not a foreign pathogen; it consists of the body's own cells.
• What is a significant difference between cancer and diseases like Covid-19 or strep throat?

  Cancer has many different types and ways to develop, unlike diseases that have specific cures or vaccines.
• Why does chemotherapy cause hair loss?

  Because chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, such as hair cells.
• How does the incidence of early-onset cancers in modern society compare to previous decades?

  The incidence of early-onset cancers has increased in multiple countries over the past several decades.
• What are the characteristics of benign tumors?

  • Tumor cells grow only locally.
  • Cannot spread to other parts of the body.
  • No invasion or metastasis.
• What are the characteristics of malignant tumors?

  • Cancer cells invade neighboring tissues.
  • Enter blood vessels.
  • Metastasize to different sites in the body.
• What causes cancer at the cellular level?

  Cancer is caused by mutations in genes that regulate growth and division.
• What are substances that promote the development of cancer called?

  Carcinogens.
• What are some examples of carcinogens associated with lung cancer?

  Tobacco smoke and certain air pollutants.
• What happens when cancer cells reproduce uncontrollably?

  • They begin to outnumber noncancerous cells.
  • This mass of cells is called a tumor.
  • Tumors can damage surrounding healthy tissues.
• How do cancer cells behave differently from normal cells in terms of growth regulation?

  Cancer cells do not respond to signals that regulate cell growth.
• What is a common characteristic shared by all cancers regarding cell cycle regulation?

  All cancers have failed protein regulators that control the cell cycle.
• What can be the consequences of uncontrolled cell growth in a tissue?

  The consequences may be severe, leading to the formation of tumors.