cancers

• Tumor

  A growth of abnormal cells
• Benign tumor

  • Growths of abnormal cells found in one area
  • Contained within a membrane
  • Do not invade or spread to other parts of the body
• Malignant tumor

  • Malignant cells invade neighboring tissues
  • Spread into the bloodstream
  • Form new tumors in different parts of the body (secondary tumors)
  • Classified as cancer
• Risk factors for cancer

  • Genetic factors (e.g. certain types of breast cancer, prostate cancer, cancer of the large intestine)
  • Lifestyle factors (e.g. lung cancer linked to smoking, skin cancer linked to UV exposure, mouth and throat cancer linked to alcohol)
  • Environmental factors (e.g. radon, a radioactive gas that increases risk of lung cancer)
• Radon releases ionizing radiation that can damage DNA and cause uncontrolled cell division leading to cancer