cancer

• Tumor


  An abnormal mass of cells that forms when a group of cells undergo uncontrolled growth and division
• Tumors


  • There are two different types: benign and malignant
  • Benign tumors are contained within one area usually within a membrane and are not normally dangerous
  • Malignant tumors can invade other tissues and spread to different parts of the body where they can form new secondary tumors, causing damage and potentially being fatal
• Cancer


  Malignant tumors that are able to invade other tissues and spread to different parts of the body
• Risk factors that increase the chance of developing cancer

  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • Ultraviolet light exposure
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Inherited genes (e.g. BRCA genes linked to breast and ovarian cancer)
• Smoking


  Linked to lung cancer and other cancers (mouth, stomach, cervical)
• Obesity


  Linked to multiple cancers (bowel, liver, kidney)
• Ultraviolet light exposure


  Strongly linked to skin cancer
• Drinking alcohol


  Linked to increased risk of liver cancer
• Inherited genes (e.g. BRCA)

  Make people more susceptible to certain cancers (e.g. breast, ovarian)