Cancer

• What is a tumour?

  An abnormal mass of cells that forms when a group of cells undergo uncontrolled growth and division.
• What are the two types of tumours?

  Benign, and malignant.
• What is a benign tumour?

  Growths of abnormal cells that are contained in one area, usually within a membrane. They do not invade other parts of the body. They are not considered cancers.
• What is a malignant tumour?

  Malignant tumour cells are cancers. They invade neighbouring tissues and spread to different parts of the body via the blood, where they then form secondary tumours.
• Which types of cancer does the BRCA gene increase the risk of?

  Breast and ovarian cancer.
• Which type of cancer does ultraviolet radiation increase the risk of?

  Skin cancer.
• Which type of cancer does smoking increase the risk of?

  Lung, mouth, stomach, breast.
• Which type of division do tumour cells divide by?

  Mitosis.