Cancer

Question 1

How is cancer caused?

Answer 1

Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth and division. This uncontrolled growth and division is a result of changes that occur to the cells and results in the formation of a tumour. Not all tumours are cancerous, they can be benign or malignant.

Question 2

What is a benign tumor?

Answer 2

This is where a tumor grows until there’s no more room.The tumour stays in one place (usually within a membrane) rather than invading other tissues in the body. This type normally isn’t dangerous, and the tumor isn’t cancerous.

Question 3

What’s a malignant tumour?

Answer 3

This where the tumour grows and spreads to healthy tissues nearby. Cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body by travelling in the bloodstream.The malignant cells then invade healthy tissues elsewhere in the body and form secondary tumours. Malignant tumours are dangerous and can be fatal. They are cancerous.

Question 4

Have cancer survival rates increased or decreased?

Answer 4

Cancer survival rates have increased, due to medical advances such as improved treatment, being able to diagnose cancer earlier, and increased screening for the disease.

Question 5

What are risk factors for cancer?

Answer 5

Smoking, obesity, UV exposure, Viral infection, and faulty genes.

Question 6

What types of cancer does smoking cause? (5)

Answer 6

Lung, mouth, bowel, stomach, and cervical cancer.

Question 7

What types of cancer does obesity cause? (3)

Answer 7

Bowel, liver, and kidney cancer.

Question 8

What type of cancer does UV exposure cause? (1)

Answer 8

Skin cancer

Question 9

Which viral infection causes cancer?

Answer 9

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C

Question 10

Which gene has had mutations linked to an increase risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

Answer 10

BRCA