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Introduction to Cancer Biology
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An introduction to cancer biology which is a new module introduced by Dr Helen James at University of East Anglia
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L1: INTRODUCTION TO CANCER BIOLOGY [26/09/2022]I. WHAT IS CANCER?
Cancer is a disease where cells grow out of control and invade, erode, and destroy normal tissue.
The driving forces behind the development of cancer are damaged genes.
It develops when cells start to divide at the wrong time and in the wrong place, then continue to
divide and invade nearby tissues and organs. The swelling or tumour are caused by uncontrolled
growth of cells.
It is not one disease but many, whereby have similar features but distinct characteristic and may
vary according to the cancer’s type and location.
II. CANCER INCIDENCE
One of two people will be diagnosed with cancer.
Cancer is a large collection of many diseases with many causes
Cancer kills because the uncontrolled replication of cells within the
tumour disrupts the structural integrity of the tissue in which it is
located – leading to the spread of the disease – metastasis.
Cancer incidence increases with age.
Western countries are increasingly aged, this will lead to increased
prevalence of cancer.
Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) = is the most common condition
that is curable in the vast majority of cases, according to the report
from Cancer Research UK.
III. CANCER SURVIVAL
Cancer survival figures are usually written as a % or number of patients alive five years after
diagnosis.
This does not necessarily mean that the patient is cured:
No occurrence of cancer
Recurrence of cancer but alive
Recurrence after the five years
IV. CAUSES OF CANCER
Hereditary (<5%)
Environmental: radiation, chemical, hazards in workplace
Lifestyle: diet, smoking, alcohol, sex
Viruses
{These factors change the equilibrium of cells, initiating tumour progression and hallmarks of cancer.
Normal cells become neoplastic through multistep process.}
V. TRANSMISSIBLE CANCER
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