Cancer Cells

Question 1

Radiation therapy

Answer 1

The use of high energy electromagnetic radiation to kill cancer cells. The radiation damages the DNA inside the cancer cells, causing them to die.
Radiation damages healthy cells too; therefore the treatment is targeted directly at the tumour.

Question 2

Chemotherapy

Answer 2

The use of special drugs to treat cancer. Most chemotherapy drugs are cytotoxic (toxic to cells) and work by damaging the cell’s DNA. Chemotherapy specifically tries to prevent cell division, and so it is very toxic to cancer cells which are characterised by uncontrolled cell division. However, unfortunately, these drugs also damage healthy cells that divide rapidly
Because of the damage to rapidly dividing healthy cells, there are many side-effects

Question 3

Surgery

Answer 3

Removal of either the whole tumour, part of the tumour and sometimes even whole organs or body parts. When a small section of the tumour is removed this is called biopsy.

Question 4

Causes of Cancer

Answer 4

Known carcinogens include:
cigarette smoke
Radiation
X-rays
UV light
food additives
several dangerous chemicals