Cancer

• Cancer is the result of changes in cells that leads to uncontrolled growth and division
• Benign tumours are growths of abnormal cells which are contained in one area, usually within a membrane. They do not invade other parts of the body.
• Malignant tumours are cancers. They invade neighbouring tissues and spread to different parts of the body in the blood, where they form secondary tumours.
• scientists have identified lifestyle risk factors for various types of cancer. There are also genetic risk factors for some cancers.
• Smoking as a risk factor:

  • linked to lung cancer
  • also mouth, bowel, stomach, and cervical cancer
• Obesity:

  • Second biggest preventable cause
  • Linked to bowel, liver, and kidney cancer
• UV Exposure:

  • Increases chance of skin cancer
  • Sunbeams increase risk
• Viral infection:

  • hepatitis B and C show links to increased chance of liver cancer
  • caused by sharing needles or unprotected sex
• Risk factors can be inherited by genetics - BRCA gene linked to breast and ovarian cancer