Cancer

What is cancer ?

Cancer is the result of changes that lead to uncontrolled cell growth and division resulting in the formation of a tumour

What is a tumour ?

a mass of cells

What are benign tumours ?

This is where the tumour grows until there is no more room. The tumour stays in one place rather than invading other tissues in the body. This type isnt dangerours and the tumour isnt cancerous.

What are Malignant tumours ?

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

what are the risk factors to cancer associated with lifestyle ?

Smoking - Linked to Lung cancer but linked to others like mouth and bowel cancer.

Obesity - Linked to many types of cancers including bowel, liver and kidney cancer. Its the second biggest preventable cause after smoking.

UV exposure - people who are often exposed to UV radiation from the sun have an increased chance of developing skin cancer. People who frequently use sun beds are putting themselves at higher risk of developing skin cancer.

Viral infection - infection from some viruses has been shown to increase the chance of developing certain types of cancer.

What are genetic risk factors to cancer ?

When you inherit faulty genes making you suspectable to cancer