Cancer

• Benign tumours


  Grow slowly, usually within a confined space, can easily be removed, do not invade other parts of the body
• Malignant tumours


  Grow quickly, invade surrounding tissues, can spread to other parts of the body
• Cancer cells are undifferentiated - they do not carry out their normal function
• At some point, secondary tumours may develop
• Carcinogens


  Substances that can cause cancer by damaging DNA and causing mutations
• A single mutation will not cause cancer - several are required
• We are more likely to develop cancer as we get older
• Cancer progression


  1. Cancer cells detach

  2. Cancer cells can form secondary tumours in other parts of the body

  3. This is called metastasis
• Examples of secondary tumours include bone tumours and brain tumours
• Ionising radiation increases the risk of cancer
• Exposure to chemical carcinogens, industrial and environmental factors at work can increase the risk of cancer
• Chemotherphy

  The chemicals used are highly toxic to cells that divide rapidly -using chemicals to kill cancerous cells
• Radiotheraphy

  Using x-rays to kill Cells Cancerous
• Palliative

  Helps a person who has fatal cancer to die as comfortably as possible
• Side effects of chemotherapy

  Can include hair loss, nausea, and other symptoms caused by damage to healthy cells that divide rapidly