How Cancer Starts in Cells and Grows Out of Control
Cancer is a disease that starts in cells and grows out of control, forming tumours or masses. These cancer cells often stop working properly, disrupting healthy tissues around them and spreading to other parts of the body. This can cause pain and other symptoms, and may even lead to death. There are many different types of cancer, which start in different kinds of cells and affect different parts of the body. They can grow quickly or slowly, and some form tumours (or lumps) while others do not.
Cells have natural ways to safeguard against cancer, including apoptosis (programmed cell death), helper molecules, and aging. But if a normal cell has an abnormal gene mutation, it may escape these safeguards and continue growing uncontrollably. Other factors can also contribute to the development of cancer, such as exposure to chemicals or environmental toxins, such as those found in tobacco smoke and prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers.
The process by which normal cells turn into cancer is called carcinogenesis. A person’s risk of developing cancer increases with the number of gene mutations they have, how fast the mutations occur, and how mutated the genes are. These mutations can be inherited or they can happen at any time during life. The more mutations a person has, the more likely they are to develop cancer.
There are many ways to prevent cancer, and research is continuing to find new ways to detect it earlier and treat it more effectively. Some cancers can be prevented by making lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, not smoking or using recreational drugs, and getting regular screenings to check for precancerous conditions.
Some cancers are treated with surgery to remove the tumour; radiation therapy, which uses high-energy X-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells and destroy their ability to multiply; and chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill cancer cells and stop them from growing or spreading. Treatments that are used to target specific mutations in cancer cells may be more effective and less damaging to normal cells.
No two people’s cancers are exactly the same, even if they have the same type of mutations. This is because different cancers have different characteristics, and because there are other factors that can influence a cancer’s growth, such as where it starts in the body or how it responds to treatment. Some cancers are grouped into categories, such as blood cancers or solid tumours. They can be further divided based on how they grow, where they start in the body, or whether they have certain receptors on their cells.
Cancer is a disease that starts in cells and grows out of control, forming tumours or masses. These cancer cells often stop working properly, disrupting healthy tissues around them and spreading to other parts of the body. This can cause pain and other symptoms, and may even lead to death. There are many different types of cancer, which start in different kinds of cells and affect different parts of the body. They can grow quickly or slowly, and some form tumours (or lumps) while others do not. Cells have natural ways to safeguard against cancer, including apoptosis (programmed cell death), helper molecules, and aging. But if a normal cell has an abnormal gene mutation, it may escape these safeguards and continue growing uncontrollably. Other factors can also contribute to the development of cancer, such as exposure to chemicals or environmental toxins, such as those found in tobacco smoke and prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers. The process by which normal cells turn into cancer is called carcinogenesis. A person’s risk of developing cancer increases with the number of gene mutations they have, how fast the mutations occur, and how mutated the genes are. These mutations can be inherited or they can happen at any time during life. The more mutations a person has, the more likely they are to develop cancer. There are many ways to prevent cancer, and research is continuing to find new ways to detect it earlier and treat it more effectively. Some cancers can be prevented by making lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, not smoking or using recreational drugs, and getting regular screenings to check for precancerous conditions. Some cancers are treated with surgery to remove the tumour; radiation therapy, which uses high-energy X-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells and destroy their ability to multiply; and chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill cancer cells and stop them from growing or spreading. Treatments that are used to target specific mutations in cancer cells may be more effective and less damaging to normal cells. No two people’s cancers are exactly the same, even if they have the same type of mutations. This is because different cancers have different characteristics, and because there are other factors that can influence a cancer’s growth, such as where it starts in the body or how it responds to treatment. Some cancers are grouped into categories, such as blood cancers or solid tumours. They can be further divided based on how they grow, where they start in the body, or whether they have certain receptors on their cells.