B7-Non communicable diseases Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is cancer?
Uncontrolled cell division
How is cancer caused?
Mutation in DNA inactivates tumour suppressor gene
Stop signal for cell division stops working
Cell divides uncontrollably
A lump of cells is formed
Cancerous cells break off and form secondary malignant tumours elsewhere
What are tumour cells?
Cells which divide rapidly and do not respond to normal mechanisms that control the cell cycle
They live for longer periods of time than normal cells
What is a tumour?
A mass of uncontrollably dividing cells
What is a benign tumour, and how can it be dangerous?
A tumour that is contained within one membrane that is not cancerous
It can put pressure on body parts if it grows too big
What is a malignant tumour?
A tumour that can spread around the body and invade healthy tissue
How is a malignant tumour formed?
Small fragments of tumour travel via bloodstream and lymph system, and wherever they settle they continue to divide, forming secondary tumours
What are the triggers for tumour development?
Genes
Carcinogens
Ionising radiation
Viral infections
What are 2 methods of treating cancer and how do they work?
Radiotherapy-Targeted doses of radiation stop mitosis in cancer cells
Chemotherapy-Chemicals used to stop all rapidly dividing cells from dividing (e.g. hair and cancer cells)
What are the similarities between benign and malignant tumours?
Similarities:
Both result from changes in the DNA
Both are uncontrolled cell growth
Both form a lump of cells
Both are made from mutated/abnormal cells
Differences:
Malignant tumours are made up of cancer cells
Malignant tumours usually grow faster
Malignant tumours invade neighbouring tissue
Malignant tumours can form secondary tumours
What is a mutation?
A change in DNA
