Cancer Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What is cancer?

The result of changes in cells that lead to uncontrolled growth and division, forming a tumour.

What is a benign tumour?

A growth of abnormal cells contained in one area, usually within a membrane; it does not invade other parts of the body.

What is a malignant tumour?

A cancer: its cells invade neighbouring tissues and spread in the blood to other parts of the body, where they form secondary tumours.

Give two lifestyle risk factors for cancer.

Smoking (lung cancer) and exposure to UV radiation from the sun (skin cancer).
Obesity and alcohol are also accepted.

True or false? All cancers are caused by lifestyle factors.

False. Some cancers also have genetic risk factors, such as inherited faulty genes.