Cancer

• Cancer

  Any malignant growth or tumour caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division

  
• Uncontrolled growth


  When cells lose the ability to control growth

  
• Cell division


  Process by which a cell divides into new daughter cells

  
• Benign tumour


  A lump of cells that cannot invade neighbouring tissues or spread throughout the body

  
• Abnormal cell

  When cell growth and division not under normal control processes
• Malignant tumour

  Lump of cells that have developed the ability to travel to other parts of the body

  
• Secondary tumour

  A lump of cells formed from a cell transported from a primary tumour
• Carcinogen

  A cancer-causing substance

  
• Ionising radiation

  Type of radiation such as UV, X-ray or gamma rays that can cause mutations in DNA

  
• Smoking

  A risk factor for lung cancer

  
• Genetic risk factor

  Specific genes which increase the risk of certain health problems
• Lifestyle risk factor

  Specific actions which increase the risk of certain health problems
• Mutation


  A change in a gene or chromosome

  
• Radiotherapy

  A treatment for cancer using radiation

  
• Chemotherapy

  A treatment for cancer using drugs