cancer

• mitosis is..

  extremely tightly controlled. the genes in the nucleus tell cells when to divide and when to stop
• when changes take place in the genes..

  it leads to uncontrolled growth and mitosis, producing a tumor.
• two types of tumors

  • benign
  • malignant
• features of benign tumors

  • growths of abnormal cells found in one area - usually within a membrane
  • they do not invade other parts of the body
• features malignant tumors

  • invade neighbouring tissues and more into the blood stream
  • once in the bloodstream, they can spread and form new tumors
  • they are classed as a cancer
• another word for new tumors

  secondary tumors
• lifestyle risk factors of cancers

  • smoking - lung cancer
  • ultraviolet light - skin cancer
  • alchohol - mouth and throat cancer
• genetic risk factors of cancer

  • breast cancer
  • prostate cancer
  • large intestine cancer
• what is radon?

  a radioactive gas increasing the risk of lung cancer
• how does radon increase the risk of lung cancer?

  it releases ionising radiation which damages the DNA in our cells, causing uncontrolled cell division