cancer Flashcards
What is cancer
when genes that control the rate of mitosis are mutated or damaged
↳ leading to the formation of a
tumour
→ if this tumour stays in its spot it is benign, if it moves to other parts of the body it becomes malignant and very harmful
What is cancer caused by
→ mutations
a change in the DNA sequence (some mutations are genetically transferred)
→ chemicals (carcinogens)
a carcinogen is a chemical that can
cause cancer
→ environmental factors
tobacco smoke, vaping, radon-a
colourless gas, x-rays, UV radiation (sunlight or tanning beds)
What is a tumour
a tumour is a mass of cells that continue to divide with no specified function
What are 2 possible types of tumours
- Benign
→ a tumour that does not spread
- generally self-contained/localised but can apply pressure - Malignant
→an aggressive cancer that metastasis, resulting in sickness and/or death
↳ Metastasis
→spreaidng around the body, invading other organs and impairing their functions
How does a cell lose control
a change in DNA → allows the cell to ignore checkpoints
↳ divide the cell even if it is not ready
→ proteins are affected when mutated, causing a domino effect
What is the enzyme that cancer cells carry and what does it do
telomerase
→ encourages the cells to divide
→ does not produce or recognise suicide-causing proteins
How do tumours reduce the effectiveness of other body tissues
abnormal cancerous cells that are part of a lung tumour take up space in the lung that should be filled with normal cells performing normal lung functions
→ the abnormal cells use up nutrients that are needed by the normal cells
What are examples of carcinogens
- asbestos
- tobacco smoke
- human papilloma birus (HPV)
What are the 3 common ways that you can treat cancer
→ surgery
the tumour is cut out
→ chemotherapy
chemicals are injected into the person to poison and kill the tumour cells
→ radiation therapy
radioactive energy is used to damage the DNA of cancer cells to the point of cell death
