Cancer

• Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth and division. This uncontrolled growth and division is a result of changes that occur to the cells and results in the formation of a tumour (mass of cells). Not all tumours are cancerous.
• Benign Tumours

  • Tumour grows until there is no more room
  • Stays one place (usually within a membrane) rather than invading other tissues
  • This type isn't dangerous or cancerous.
• Malignant Tumours

  • This is where the tumour grows and spreads to neighbouring healthy tissues.
  • Cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream
  • The malignant cells then invade healthy tissues and from secondary tumours
  • Dangerous and can be fatal.
  • Cancerous
• Anyone can get cancer. Risk factors only increase the chance of it, but don't mean that you 100% will have cancer.
• Cancer survival rates have increased due to medical advances such as improved treatment, being able to diagnose earlier and increased screening.
• Risk Factors

  • Smoking- lung, mouth, bowel, stomach and cervical cancer
  • Obesity- second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking
  • UV exposure- skin cancer. people who live in sunny climates and who use sunbeds are putting themselves at risk.
  • Viral infection- hepatitis B and C increase the likelihood of liver cancer. HPV increases the chance of cervical cancer.
• Sometimes you are predisposed to cancer due to genetics. Mutations ins BRCA genes have been linked to an increased chance of breast and ovarian cancer.