20.5 Types Of Cancer Flashcards
1
Q
What is cancer?
A
A group of diseases caused by damage to the genes that regulate mitosis
2
Q
Why do cancers develop?
A
- result of mutations in genes which control cell division
- tumour suppressor genes and proto-oncor genes
3
Q
Name 3 things that increase the chance of a mutation
A
- smoking
- carcinogen
- radiation
4
Q
What is a carcinogen?
A
Any substance that produces cancer
5
Q
Name 2 examples of carcinogens
A
- chemicals such as tar in tobacco smoke
- viruses such as herpes
6
Q
What is a tumour?
A
A mass of undifferentiated cells that continually divide in abnormal ways
7
Q
Name the 2 types of tumour
A
- benign
- malignant
8
Q
What is the main difference between malignant and benign tumours?
A
- benign don’t spread
- malignant spread to establish themselves in other organs
9
Q
Why is a malignant tumour dangerous?
A
- they lead to METASTASIS
- metastasis = tumour cells breaking off and entering the blood, eventually setting up tumours in other places
